Scope of Things

Wes Michael on Enhancing Patient Voices and Sharing Their Insights

Mar 4, 2025

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In this episode of the Scope of Things, host Deborah Borfitz delivers the latest on an AI-powered trial screening tool that outperforms research staff, a strategy report on ways to boost cancer vaccine work, the continued absence of pregnant women in clinical trials, a program bringing studies directly to people in rural Utah, and efforts to integrate clinical trials into routine patient care in medically underserved areas of Oklahoma. Wes Michael, founder and president of Rare Patient Voice, also joins in to discuss how his company is connecting people undertaking research studies with participants eager to share their insights—and getting paid to do so.

Show Notes

News Roundup

AI clinical trial screening tool

Strategy report on cancer vaccines

  • Commentary in Cambridge Prisms: Precision Medicine

Exclusion of pregnant women from trials

  • Article in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Bringing cancer care and trials to Utah’s rural residents

Integrating clinical research into primary care

  • News on OU Health Sciences website

Guest
Wes Michael, president and founder of Rare Patient Voice

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Wes Michael, Founder and President, Rare Patient Voice
Wes Michael founded Rare Patient Voice in 2013 to give patients and family caregivers the opportunity to voice their opinions through taking part in research studies. Rare Patient Voice has now recruited for thousands of studies and rewarded patients and family caregivers with over $15 million for their participation. Many have been recruited in person by Wes and his team at patient events and through a robust referral program with patient advocacy and support groups. Rare Patient Voice now covers over 1,500 rare and non-rare diseases and conditions and has expanded from the United States to Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Before launching Rare Patient Voice, Wes worked for healthcare market research firm Kantar Health. He previously was a brand manager and market research manager at McCormick (the spice company) and General Mills (working on Wheaties, Total and Kix cereals). He has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania (with a year at Edinburgh University) and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Wes lives outside Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, Cathy, children Julia and Cliff, grandson Taylor, and dog Stanley.