Fortrea Launches AI Innovation Studio to Galvanize Technology and Human Solutions to Improve Clinical Trial Delivery

DURHAM, N.C., June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE), a leading global contract research organization (CRO), today announced the launch of its artificial intelligence (AI) Innovation Studio, signaling a strategic investment in reshaping the execution of clinical trials today and into the future.

The studio will develop and deploy AI and machine learning (ML) technologies to drive speed, agility, quality and enhanced patient safety in the clinical research process by equipping and empowering people to focus on the critical human element of clinical trials.

“Patients around the world are waiting for novel, life-changing treatments. With AI, we now have the power—and the obligation—to help deliver solutions to them faster,” said Fortrea’s Chief Information Officer Alejandro Martinez Galindo.

“Fortrea’s AI Innovation Studio will enable enhanced technological capabilities that will allow AI-enabled systems to perform cutting-edge processes—such as trial simulations, predictive analytics and pattern recognition—as well as repetitive, administrative, ‘machine-friendly tasks’. This frees up people to contribute human creativity and connection to the clinical trial of tomorrow and focus on what counts: the patient.”

Fortrea’s AI Innovation Studio aims to:

  • Partner across Fortrea and with our customers to provide technology solutions for bespoke site and sponsor innovation strategies;
  • Develop net new, greenfield technology innovations that holistically improve the delivery of clinical trials for sponsors, sites, patients and our teams; and
  • Support existing infrastructure and operations with enhanced technology to enable new, improved ways of working and create best-in-class user experiences.

Technologies under development in the studio include smartphone-enabled data collection; specialized large language models for text comprehension and generation; symbolic AI with real-valued logic (i.e., building decision logic using real-world scenarios and data); mixed reality and augmented intelligence; advanced data mining and predictive analytics; and digital twinning.

Strategic application of these technologies is expected to result in meaningful advancements in patient recruitment and retention, protocol creation/optimization, risk-based quality monitoring and overall delivery speed and quality. These technologies can also deliver an improved patient experience and greater productivity for Fortrea customers, sites and employees.

Developments from the AI Innovation Studio will be critical to Fortrea’s clinical technology platform, which is being designed to integrate clinical trial technology into a consumer-grade, location-agnostic, omni-channel, persona-based experience accessible thorough a single screen.

“Fortrea is focused on a future vision of the CRO industry, allowing us to build TO the future rather than FROM the past,” said Brian Dolan, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. “We are exercising great care and consideration to the responsible and ethical development and deployment of AI, prioritizing doing the right thing for the right reasons and protecting patient safety and privacy, and the intellectual property of our customers.”

About Fortrea
Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life-changing therapies to patients. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology and consulting services. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, exceptional insights and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in more than 90 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to customers globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is becoming a transformative force from pipeline to patient at Fortrea.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Fortrea Contacts:
Hima Inguva (Investors) – 877-495-0816, hima.inguva@fortrea.com
Jennifer Minx (Media) – 919-410-4195, media@fortrea.com
Kate Dillon (Media) – 646-818-9115, kdillon@prosek.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9170022

HM the King Congratulates Djibouti’s President on Independence Day

Rabat – His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to the President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismaël Omar Guelleh, on his country’s Independence Day.

In this message, the Sovereign expresses His warm congratulations and His best wishes for health and happiness to Guelleh and progress and prosperity to the Djiboutian people.

On this occasion, His Majesty the King reaffirms His pride in the bonds of brotherhood between the two Heads of State and the two countries, stressing His firm determination to continue working with the Djiboutian President to promote bilateral cooperation and raise it to the highest level for the two brotherly peoples and in the service of the African continent.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse

Jordan sends new humanitarian convoy to Gaza

Amman, The Jordanian Armed Forces, in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, dispatched a new humanitarian convoy consisting of 50 trucks to the Gaza Strip.

The Jordan News Agency “Petra” reported that the convoy was coordinated in partnership with the World Food Programme and included contributions from public campaigns and various Jordanian institutions.

The trucks transported essential food parcels and rice, intended for distribution to the population in Gaza through partner associations and local organisations.

Hussein Al-Shibli, Secretary-General of the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, affirmed Jordan’s readiness to increase the number of convoys and trucks sent to Gaza, stressing that Jordan’s primary focus since the conflict began has been to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Al Shibli explained that the total number of ground trucks that have entered Gaza as of Thursday has risen to 2,270 trucks, in addition to 53 aircraft via El Arish.

On another note, the number of ai
r drops conducted by the Jordanian Armed Forces in the sector reached 107 drops, along with 261 aerial drops in cooperation with other countries.

Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since last October, resulting in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food, medicine, and water.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

SCW organises awareness programme on housing services in cooperation with Housing Ministry

Manama, The Supreme Council for Women (SCW), in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, organised an awareness programme about how Bahraini women could utilise housing services. The programme aimed to inform participants about housing laws, the services provided by the Ministry in collaboration with local banks, and to raise awareness among Bahraini women about the housing facilities available to them under the current regulations.

The event was attended by Lulwa bint Saleh Al Awadhi Lulwa bint Saleh Al Awadhi, the Acting Secretary-General of SCW, and approximately 70 women from women’s civil society organisations.

This programme marks the beginning of a series of awareness initiatives planned by the Supreme Council for Women. The workshop focused on how Bahraini women can benefit from the collaborative efforts between the Council and the Ministry. The Council is dedicated to ensuring stability for Bahraini women by providing housing services that guarantee a decent living, reflecting t
he significant attention given to this matter by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW).

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Storms paralyze hospitals, schools, and traffic in Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia has been severely affected by storms and heavy rains, leading to widespread chaos and significant damage to buildings, particularly in the southern regions.

One hospital in the area had to shut down due to flooding, while numerous roads became submerged, disrupting rail traffic.

Images broadcasted by TA3 News showed fallen trees on houses, destroyed garden sheds, and flooded playgrounds. Some areas experienced rainfall within a few hours equivalent to what typically falls in a month.

The Meteorological Office has issued warnings for continued storms and rainfall throughout the day.

In response to the severe conditions, the mayor of Nitra, the regional capital in the southwest, declared a “state of emergency” yesterday evening.

Slovakia’s news agency reported, “The damage to public and private facilities is extremely significant. Fortunately, there have been no fatalities reported thus far, and we hope it stays that way.”

According to the fire department, Nitra’s drainage system was
overwhelmed by the volume of water. As a result, streets, basements, and lower floors of buildings in the city and surrounding areas were flooded, as reported by television channels.

Furthermore, flooding caused a hospital closure in the Nové Zámky area, located 100 kilometers from Bratislava. The hospital suspended admissions and cancelled all scheduled operations.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Nine injured in Bolivia coup attempt, 12 military officers arrested

La Paz, The Bolivian government announced that nine people were injured in an attempted military coup. The Minister of Interior reported that approximately 12 army officers involved in the coup attempt have been arrested.

On Wednesday, the Bolivian army occupied the square in front of the Government Palace in La Paz with armoured vehicles and attempted to breach the gates.

The coup attempt ended with the arrest of the alleged coup leader, General Juan José Zúñiga.

Eduardo del Castillo, the Minister of Interior, stated that around 12 army officers were detained following the coup attempt. They face charges that could result in prison sentences ranging from 15 to 30 years.

Source: Bahrain News Agency