The Next Frontier - Technology, Product and Engineering

In this episode of The Next Frontier, host Libbi Rickenbacher welcomes Michael Carnes, VP of Product, and Patrick Chokron, VP of Engineering, for a conversation that celebrates 4G Clinical’s remarkable milestone of reaching 1,000 studies. Together, they reflect on what this achievement means to them personally and professionally and how it marks a turning point for both the company and the wider industry.

Michael and Patrick share candid insights into the journey of innovation and scalability that brought 4G Clinical to this point. From the early days of accelerating study delivery with natural language processing to supporting the growing demands of increasingly complex clinical trials, the evolution of the product and its infrastructure has been shaped by a culture of adaptability and collaboration. Along the way, they explore the balance between meeting immediate customer needs while building for the future.

The discussion also highlights the engineering challenges and opportunities that come with scaling technology to support thousands of studies. Patrick reflects on the importance of performance, security, and compliance, while also fostering innovation and creative problem-solving within his teams. Both guests underscore the significance of maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset while operating at scale — never losing sight of the next study, the next partner, and the next challenge.

Looking ahead, the episode turns to the “next frontier” for RTSM solutions. With themes of AI adoption, enterprise-level support, SaaS evolution, and sustainability at the forefront, Michael and Patrick share their vision for the future of clinical trial technology. Their perspectives not only celebrate what has been achieved but also invite listeners to consider the innovations still to come.