Beyond the data: Human stories from clinical trials in Ukraine

In this final episode of season 2, Sylvain Berthelot welcomes Anna Titkova, who shares her first-hand experience of running clinical trials in Ukraine before and during the conflict. In 2022, Anna lived in Ukraine and acted as the country head for Pratia, a research site network.

Anna describes how Ukraine, once a thriving hub for international clinical research, was suddenly forced to adapt to unprecedented challenges. From halting patient recruitment and struggling with the shipment of investigational medicines, to relocating vulnerable oncology patients across borders, she paints a vivid picture of resilience and resourcefulness under pressure.

Together, Sylvain and Anna discuss the rapid regulatory adaptations that allowed continuity of care, the growing demand for clinical trial participation among internally displaced persons, and the remarkable story of a young patient whose treatment continued thanks to cross-border collaboration.

Tune in to hear how clinical trials in Ukraine have not only survived but are resurging, and why patient trust, unity, and human-centered approaches are shaping the future of research in the region.