The Activation Lab

Heartbeat Clinical Research
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  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Clinical research moves forward when people do. The Activation Lab dives into what it takes to activate patients in their care journey—breaking down the strategies, insights, and real-world approaches that drive engagement and participation.

Episodes

  1. 10/15/2025

    Measuring Clinical Research Readiness (Patients and HCPs)

    In this episode, Sarah McKeown-Cannon and Sydney Zeve unpack the science behind readiness and what it really takes for both patients and physicians to say “yes” to clinical research. They introduce Heartbeat’s ART Score, a behavioral model that measures Activation, Readiness, and Trust across the patient and physician journey. From patient literacy and motivation to site referral dynamics, they explore how readiness can predict trial success long before the first enrollment. If you’ve ever wondered why finding patients isn’t the same as activating them—or how to turn physician awareness into true referral advocacy—this conversation breaks it down.

    30 min

  2. 07/25/2025

    Hearts of Sunset Park as a Community Engagement Case Study

    What happens when clinical research stops being transactional and starts becoming part of the neighborhood? In this episode, we go on the ground in Sunset Park, Brooklyn—Heartbeat’s first pilot location of the Hearts Of project. Skylar is joined by Sasha Sakay, Senior Strategy Manager at Heartbeat, to explore what it really takes to build trust at the community level, why showing up consistently matters, and how early activation can change the future of trial participation. You’ll hear real examples of how we translate community conversations into tangible value—like localized health resource maps and culturally relevant produce guides. Head to www.weareheartbeat.com/clinical-research and fill out the contact form, and mention HEARTSOF if you are interested in finding out how you and your teams can get involved.

    30 min

  3. 05/20/2025

    Who Do You Trust? Live Conversations in the Park

    In this special on-the-ground episode of The Activation Lab, we head to Washington Square Park with one question: When it comes to your health, who do you trust? What follows is a series of candid conversations with everyday people—sharing what shapes their decisions, what makes them skeptical, and what it would take for them to ever consider joining a clinical trial. Skylar Moore reflects on what these moments reveal about the true foundation of patient activation—and why trust, representation, and timing matter more than we think. To learn more about our work in patient activation and community engagement, visit www.weareheartbeat.com/clinical-research

    28 min

  4. 05/07/2025

    Fixing the Wrong Fire: Talking Rescue with Brett DiSanto

    Everyone in clinical research knows the scramble: enrollment stalls, pressure builds, and suddenly a study is in “rescue.” But what if the real issues start long before that moment? In this episode of The Activation Lab, Skylar Moore sits down with Brett DiSanto, Account Director at Heartbeat Clinical Research, to unpack the truths no one says out loud about rescue studies. From upstream missteps to sponsor panic, they break down what actually derails trials, and how activation can turn things around. You’ll hear how behavioral friction, unrealistic timelines, and outdated recruitment playbooks often mask the real problem: a failure to activate. And why the most effective rescue strategies don’t start with more ads—they start with understanding people. Whether you’re mid-rescue or trying to avoid one, this episode offers a fresh, actionable lens for rethinking trial success. Want help diagnosing the root cause of your enrollment issues?Visit www.weareheartbeat.com/clinical-research and use code ACTIVATE RESCUE in your contact form to get a free activation rescue audit—a fast, no-risk way to uncover what’s really blocking progress.

    25 min

  5. 03/25/2025

    Why Patient Recruitment is Over: LIVE at Patients as Partners 2025 with Sarah Mckeown-Cannon

    In this special episode recorded live from the Patients as Partners stage in Boston, Sarah McKeown-Cannon—SVP and Head of Heartbeat Clinical Research—challenges everything you thought you knew about patient recruitment. Sarah unpacks the true meaning of patient activation, explores the psychology of motivation and behavioral triggers, and makes a bold case for why it’s time to retire traditional recruitment models altogether. She also shares case examples on community engagement, trust, and what it takes to build lasting relationships beyond the protocol. If you're ready to think differently about how we connect with patients, this one’s not to be missed.

    16 min

  6. 03/12/2025

    The Behavioral Blueprint: Activating Patients Through Science

    Patient activation isn’t about persuasion—it’s about empowerment. In this episode of The Activation Lab, host Skylar Moore, Director of Growth & Marketing at Heartbeat Clinical Research, sits down with Sarah McKeown-Cannon, SVP and Head of Clinical Research, to break down the behavioral science behind activation. Why do traditional recruitment models keep failing? Because they focus on finding patients instead of activating them. Sarah and Skylar explore why the industry needs to shift from transactional, one-off recruitment tactics to sustained, long-term engagement strategies. They dive deep into the three key elements of activation—motivation, ability, and the right trigger—sharing how behavioral science, trust-building, and community collaboration are reshaping the clinical research landscape. This isn’t about just getting patients in the door. It’s about creating an environment where participation feels like a natural, informed choice. Ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about patient recruitment? Tune in. 🔹 Learn how the Fogg Behavior Model explains patient decision-making🔹 Understand why engagement must be a longitudinal relationship—not a one-time ask🔹 Hear real-world examples of activation strategies in action If this conversation sparked new ideas, share it with your team and let’s push the boundaries together. Subscribe, leave a review, and keep activating. Visit weareheartbeat.com/clinical-research to learn more.

    32 min

  7. 02/09/2025

    LIVE at SCOPE: Redefining Research through Patient and Community Collaboration

    Visithttps://weareheartbeat.com/clinical-research today to learn more about Patient Activation. LIVE at the SCOPE 2025 Conference in Orlando, Florida, Sarah Mckeown-Cannon, SVP and Head of Clinical Research at Heartbeat moderates a panel of executives steeped in the patient recruitment and engagement space. The panel includes: Sasha Tyndale, Director of Diversity and Patient Inclusion at Abbvie, Patricia Roselle, Global Head of Patient Stakeholder Engagement at Sanofi, Jen Horonjeff, CEO and Founder of Savvy Cooperative, Jeff Huntsman, Chief Commercial Officer of PCM Trials and EmVenio Research, and Matt Smith, VP of Strategic Relationships at Heartbeat. The panel explores how community-led engagement can transform clinical research by fostering trust, empowering patients, and creating sustainable, impactful relationships. They also provide practical applicable references and experiences to better understand impact, and highlights the importance in the industry shift from patient recruitment, to patient activation.

    36 min
  • 7 Episodes

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out of 5
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About

Clinical research moves forward when people do. The Activation Lab dives into what it takes to activate patients in their care journey—breaking down the strategies, insights, and real-world approaches that drive engagement and participation.

Information

  • Creator
    Heartbeat Clinical Research
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Heartbeat Clinical Research
  • Show Website
    The Activation Lab