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Ben-Gurion University Medical Student Develops Software to Accelerate COVID-19 Clinical Trials for New Vaccines and Drugs

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NEW YORK…May 14, 2020 – A student at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beer-Sheva, Israel has developed software that will help find and enroll COVID-19 positive patients to accelerate completion of hundreds of ongoing clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines.

Daniel Iluz-Freundlich, a second-year medical student and vice president of Refuah Solutions Ltd., developed the app, PI-Enroll, to accelerate patient enrollment in clinical trials. PI-Enroll provides clinical investigators with instant access to the trial’s inclusion and exclusion criteria, selected study information and an innovative communication network that coordinates patient enrolment and other trial-related activities. Refuah’s app has been provided at no cost to COVID-19 trials underway in North America, Asia and Europe.

According to CDC.gov, “Clinical development is a three-phase process. During Phase I, small groups of people receive the trial vaccine. In Phase II, the clinical study is expanded, and vaccine is given to people who have characteristics (such as age and physical health) similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended. In Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficacy and safety. Many vaccines undergo Phase IV formal, ongoing studies after the vaccine is approved and licensed.
According to Iluz-Freundlich, “In the first two phases, investigators generally know how long the phases will last. However, in the third phase, finding and enrolling the required number of patients with the right criteria for a particular trial can be challenging. In fact, delays in patient enrollment account for 70 to 90% of trials failing to be completed on time.

He originally developed PI-Enroll for other medical disorders, and recently added a feature that enables laboratories to directly notify principal investigators and their study coordinators of positive COVID-19 individuals. He also programmed side-by-side comparisons of COVID-19 trials to ensure the right patient is enrolled into the appropriate trial. In a pilot study of the program, the PI-Enroll supplied site enrolled twice as many patients in one half the time required by the other study sites.

What Daniel has developed will be appreciated by investigators around the world, but those who will benefit most are the unfortunate patients with severe COVID-19 infections who we hope will now receive safe and effective treatment much sooner than what would have been the case,” says Gerald Y. Minuk, chief executive officer of Refuah Solutions Ltd.

Iluz-Freundlich graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2017, earning a gold medal in computer science and the second highest GPA in the Faculty of Science.

Daniel epitomizes the kind of exceptional student that is drawn to BGU’s international medical school,” says Doug Seserman, chief executive officer for American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU). “We’re pleased he will be part of a webinar we’re hosting with MSIH alumni who are working on the front lines to combat the virus.

 

About MSIH
The Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) uniquely incorporates global health components into all four years of the core curriculum. The M.D. program, taught in English, prepares students for a career going far beyond the hospital or private clinic. With mandatory clerkships in developing countries or disadvantaged communities, and fourth-year electives in prestigious hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, they gain the training necessary to practice medicine while meeting the challenges of global health. Alumni are making a huge impact in hospitals all over the world. For more information, contact MSIH.

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion’s vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University’s expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) turns 50 this year, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more. AABGU, headquartered in Manhattan, has nine regional offices throughout the United States. For more information visit www.aabgu.org.