Inspiration
SkinSide was inspired by a clear gap in Ireland’s dermatology research ecosystem. While Ireland hosts world-class dermatology research infrastructure, there is no unified, patient-friendly system that allows individuals to discover, understand, and participate in clinical trials. Existing registries such as CTIS and ClinicalTrials.gov are designed for regulatory compliance—not patient accessibility.
Through preliminary discussions and survey validation, we identified a recurring issue: patients are willing to participate in research but do not know where to find trials or how eligibility works. SkinSide was created to bridge that access gap using ethical, explainable artificial intelligence.
What it does
SkinSide is a centralized, privacy-first platform that connects dermatology patients with relevant clinical trials in Ireland.
It:
- Aggregates open-access trial data into a unified database
- Translates complex eligibility criteria into plain-language explanations
- Uses explainable AI to match patients to relevant trials
- Provides researchers with structured recruitment insights
- Maintains GDPR-compliant, consent-driven data handling
SkinSide does not replace existing trial registries or alter research governance. It functions as an access and recruitment layer that improves visibility and engagement.
How we built it
SkinSide was developed as a dual-interface platform:
- A Patient Portal allowing individuals to explore dermatology trials, complete structured eligibility questionnaires, and receive transparent match explanations
- A Researcher Dashboard offering recruitment analytics, participant notifications, and streamlined engagement tools
We built the system using rule-based eligibility mapping combined with explainable AI logic, ensuring that all recommendations are traceable to original protocol criteria. Legal and compliance frameworks were designed in parallel, with GDPR considerations embedded from the outset rather than added later.
Institutional engagement discussions began early to ensure alignment with real-world dermatology research workflows.
Challenges we ran into
- Translating highly technical eligibility criteria into patient-friendly language without compromising scientific accuracy
- Designing an AI matching system that supports recruitment without introducing bias
- Navigating GDPR considerations around sensitive health data
- Ensuring the platform complements, rather than disrupts, existing research infrastructure
- Balancing ambition with academic credibility as a clinician-led initiative
Each challenge reinforced the need for transparency, clinical oversight, and ethical guardrails.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- Developing a functional MVP with a working matching architecture
- Securing early engagement conversations with leading dermatology research institutions
- Designing the platform with privacy and explainability as core principles
- Validating strong patient and physician interest in a centralized dermatology trial access tool
- Positioning SkinSide as a clinician-led, academically grounded initiative rather than a purely technical solution
What we learned
- Patients are willing to participate in research—but access and clarity are major barriers
- Recruitment inefficiencies are systemic, not isolated
- Ethical AI requires deliberate design choices, not marketing language
- Institutional trust is as important as technical capability
- Academic credibility strengthens innovation rather than slowing it
Most importantly, we learned that solving research access requires collaboration between clinicians, technologists, and governance leaders.
What's next for SkinSide
The next phase focuses on structured pilot deployment and institutional validation:
- Launching a pilot within Irish dermatology research units
- Refining matching algorithms using real-world recruitment data
- Formalizing governance and compliance frameworks
- Expanding institutional partnerships nationally
- Measuring recruitment efficiency impact through defined clinical metrics
Our long-term goal is to establish SkinSide as Ireland’s unified dermatology clinical trial access platform—scalable, ethical, and academically anchored.
Built With
- chatgpt
- claude
- lovable
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