Medical translation services are a behind-the-scenes hero in the work to develop and distribute COVID-19 vaccines. In order to communicate accurate information to healthcare staff, patients and the general public, medical translation has played a key role. In this article, we look at 10 key areas in which medical translation supported vaccine development, from virtual clinical trials and the importance of patient communication to improving medical technology and ensuring clear communication at the time of distribution.

10. Multilingual Content Centralization for Smooth MDR Implementation

2020 started out like most years—not overly eventful. In January, we focused on the ongoing European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and its impact on content and language. What’s needed to successfully implement it? The effective management of content and language. With extensive experience in European regulations, we highlighted our ability to help you transition into MDR compliance and define a compliant E.U. language strategy. Read more.

9. The Disruption Series: Maintaining Study Participants from Afar

By spring, COVID-19 was spreading across the globe. In response, we introduced the Lionbridge Disruption Series to explore how the pandemic was impacting pharmaceutical companies. In the third piece of the series, we focused on the disruption to clinical trials and delved into ways clinical trial administrators could keep trial participants engaged. The bottom line: Trial administrators must implement effective communication in the participant’s first language to improve patient recruitment and retention. Read more.

8. The Disruption Series: Post-Pandemic Virtual Clinical Trials

The Disruption Series continued and in the fourth piece, we focused on the concept of virtual clinical trials. Technology solutions can help trial administrators and participants overcome the challenges resulting from social distancing. We explored how eLearning, augmented reality and the use of real-time translations can all have a place in virtual trials. Experts anticipate the prevalence of a blended trial design—made up of hybrid onsite and remote trial procedures—even after the pandemic has passed. Read more.

7. The Disruption Series: Challenges in Moving Clinical Trials Off-Site

By the end of April, we noted that governments and regulators took action to expedite research aimed at COVID-19 treatment and prevention. While new guidance allowed for greater flexibility, it also protected the safety of trial participants. We discussed the assessment of clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes without site visits. Our takeaway? Translating and adapting clinical outcome assessments with cultural competence and linguistic accuracy is critical to obtain truthful, transparent communications involving participants who speak multiple languages. Read more.

6. The Disruption Series: The Lasting Impact of COVID-19 on Pharma

In July, we wrapped up the Lionbridge Disruption Series. In our final article, we considered how regulatory changes, technology use and communication would form the new normal. One thing was certain: The need for good communication will continue to be necessary in a post-pandemic world. Read more.

5. The Patient Engagement Series: Patient Voices in Medicine Research and Development

Trial subject or participant? During clinical research, word choice matters, according patient expert Lotte Klim. By the fall, our Patient Engagement series was underway. We spoke with Kim, a Fellow of EUPATI (The European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation), to understand the patient perspective of Patient Engagement. And in case you were wondering, a person involved in a trial would rather be referred to as a participant as opposed to a subject. Read more.

4. Patient Engagement: Medical on Mobile

In the third piece of our Patient Engagement series, we wrote about uMotif, a mobile platform developed to help patients track their symptoms and connect with researchers interested in studying those symptoms. CEO Bruce Hellman considered the role his technology could have to enable people to obtain better healthcare journeys, and how it could support both traditional, site-based trials and virtual trials. Read more.

3. The Value of a Voice

The fifth piece of our Patient Engagement series was on the importance of incorporating patient-reported outcomes in research and practice. The premise was simple: Patients are experts on their health and their voices are critical to research. Read more.

2. Innovation to Immunity: The COVID-19 Vaccine Process

In December, the world continued its race to find therapeutic solutions for COVID-19. There were 1,157 global clinical trials in the pipeline and 100 vaccines in development early in the month. That’s when we introduced Innovation to Immunity, our latest series on COVID-19. This series offers perspectives on clinical development and regulatory approvals during the pandemic and in the future. In the first part, we explored how the accelerated execution of clinical trials promotes unique collaboration among pharma companies. Read more.

1. Innovation to Immunity: Distribution and Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine

How could a COVID-19 vaccine reach everyone in the world? That was the underlying question in the second part of our Innovation to Immunity series. The distribution and acceptance of a vaccine will require a multilingual approach. From a technological biological description of a vaccine to an information campaign geared towards reluctant users, we asserted that language will be instrumental to a vaccine program’s success. Read more.

As we look towards 2021, we are filled with hope that scientific innovations of the past year will bring relief to the world and restore some semblance of normality to our lives. We are proud and humbled to be part of that life-saving effort.