Grillberger, R. (2016). InvolveMe-Business plan, closing gaps in translational research by transiting patients from drug consumers to participants in research [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien; Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2016.37644
The master thesis -InvolveMe-Business plan, closing gaps in translational research by transiting patients from drug consumers to participants in research-demonstrates how a service provider can create in a profitable manner the conditions of enrichment of biomedical science produced in labs through patients involvement. Despite being the primary beneficiaries of translational research, the patients voice is not included in the innovation process in the design of new lab research. InvoveMe is a novel patients- and researchers-oriented service venture that enables the communication of jargon free biomedical and pharmaceutical knowledge by researchers to patients with rare diseases through crowdsourcing platforms and conferences. InvolveMe invites also patients affected by a specific rare disease to submit questions that researchers researching the same disease may be able to answer. Thereby it enables the injection of the patients unique experiential knowledge in the translation process of basic scientific findings to relevant clinical applications. Striving for being the preferred bridge between patients with rare diseases and biomedical researchers from the public and private sector, InvolveMe partners with key patients support organizations that are representative of people living with rare diseases in the world and communicates its services to researchers by back-riding on sales and marketing channels of related non-competing businesses for a fast and efficient market entry. Despite being entirely dependent on researchers and patients in the creation of its services, InvolveMe enables research organizations for rare diseases to coincide their biomedical innovation model with the concerns of their end users.