Research Grid Secures $6.48M to Streamline Clinical Trial Administration with Automation

After 14 years in medical research, Amber Hill was driven by one major frustration: the overwhelming amount of time spent on repetitive administrative tasks. Determined to improve efficiency in clinical trials, Hill founded Research Grid in 2020 to automate these processes and streamline trial operations.

Based in London, Research Grid recently announced a $6.48 million seed funding round led by Fuel Ventures, with support from Ada Ventures and Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab. Research Grid aims to revolutionize clinical trials by automating data management and administrative workflows, claiming it’s the only software to fully automate back-office operations for clinical studies.

Research Grid’s flagship products, Inclusive and Trial Engine, reduce human error and cut down on time-intensive tasks such as data extraction, protocol checks, and workflow automation. Many trials currently rely on outdated legacy systems, leading to costly delays. Hill is confident that Research Grid’s technology is poised to disrupt the market, although she acknowledges that it will take time to replace larger incumbents.

Beyond automation, the platform addresses recruitment challenges, which are crucial to trial success but often hampered by narrow eligibility criteria and manual processes. Research Grid's AI-driven customer relationship management feature includes over 80,000 global patient groups and can find suitable candidates in seconds instead of months. This is particularly important as the FDA now mandates diverse representation in clinical trials, with an emphasis on including women and people of color.

The funding will help Research Grid expand its engineering team and strengthen its presence in the U.S. and Asia. Hill, who has a strong background in nonprofit management and entrepreneurship, previously ran a successful nonprofit while completing her doctorate, giving her the resilience and skills to bring Research Grid to life.

In a short time, the company has seen rapid growth, with revenue increasing over 20x last year. Currently collaborating with pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and clinical sites, Research Grid aims to transform clinical research with its cutting-edge AI solutions.