DHIN Partners with Audubon Bioscience to Support Medical Research

Latest Collaboration to Connect Clinicians to Relevant Research Opportunities

DOVER, DE (April 8, 2024) — Delawareans and their doctors have access to expanded biomedical research opportunities through a new partnership between Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) and biospecimen contract research organization Audubon Bioscience Co. This collaboration leverages de-identified aggregate claims data and DHIN’s vast network of participating clinicians to facilitate access to advanced medicine, thus connecting treating physicians to medical research opportunities that may be of interest to their patients.

Delaware’s Health Care Claims Database (HCCD), powered by DHIN, supports data analytics for research and policy decisions. This trove of claims data, dating back to 2013, is particularly valuable to health researchers, as it encompasses the majority of Delawareans and features more than 100 million medical claims and over 90 million pharmacy claims.

In 2022, the HCCD governing body authorized DHIN to use de-identified claims data to help connect research organizations with relevant health systems and practices. These healthcare providers have direct relationships with patients who could both qualify for and benefit from participation in preclinical studies and clinical trials. They consider the potential benefits and work with the patient to make an informed decision for participation.

Through this biomedical research agreement, Audubon Bioscience will provide DHIN with scope parameters for upcoming preclinical studies. DHIN, in return, conducts an analysis of de-identified claims data to identify the provider organizations with patients who could potentially benefit from such research. DHIN contacts those providers and introduces them to Audubon Bioscience for further discussion.

“Finding new cures for cancer and many other diseases requires profound research on high-quality biospecimens and clinical data,” says Audubon Bioscience Chief Executive Officer Rostyslav Semikov, MD. “This collaboration with DHIN extends our capacities to support cutting-edge medical research by engaging more patients in the U.S. It is a valuable partnership to expand our growing network of more than 120 clinical sites in 12 countries spanning North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.”

DHIN Chief Operating Officer Randy Farmer highlights Delaware’s – and DHIN’s – unique ability to support clinical research efforts: “Delaware’s patient population has been highlighted as representing a microcosm of the U.S. population, making it attractive to research service providers like Audubon Bioscience. Partnerships like these provide a service to patients, who can support the development of life-saving diagnostics and treatments, and help DHIN fulfill our mission of making health data useful.”

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