From Lab Coat to Study Participant to Trial co-Designer: Ella Balasa

Episode Overview

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ella Balasa, a patient expert and advocate with extensive experience in clinical trial co-design. This episode explores how early patient involvement can transform clinical research and development, building on Merakoi's commitment to patient-centered healthcare innovation.

Guest Bio

Ella Balasa - Patient expert and advocate specializing in clinical trial co-design, with a unique background combining microbiology lab experience and personal patient journey with cystic fibrosis.

Key Topics

• The evolution from patient advocate to healthcare consultant
• Building trust in underrepresented communities
• The importance of grassroots engagement in clinical trials
• Transforming the patient role from subject to partner
• Strategies for early patient involvement in trial design

 "It's not that patients are just in the center... we are sitting around the table with everybody else. We're a piece of this ecosystem."

Main Takeaways

1. The critical importance of human-to-human relationships in building trust
2. Why early patient engagement matters in trial design
3. How empathy drives better healthcare solutions

Related Resources

"From Patient to Partner: Transforming Clinical Trial Experiences Through Co-Design"

"The Patient Left in the Dark: My Story of Unanswered Questions" 

About Merakoi
At Merakoi, we're passionate about harnessing the power of mini-communities to bridge the information gap and empower patients to take control of their health journeys. By fostering ongoing collaboration between patients, healthcare providers, and pharma companies, we're creating a future where every patient has access to the knowledge and support they need to thrive.

Together, we can build a world where no patient is left in the dark, searching for answers. If this sounds like the kind of healthcare innovation you want to participate in, let's chat!