Read here what's moving us right now.

The PubMed.ai practical test: currently more shadow than light

In the course of advancing digitalization in healthcare, we repeatedly come across innovative applications that should make it easier for us to research and evaluate medical literature. One of these digital solutions is PubMed.ai, which uses artificial intelligence to optimize searches in the well-known PubMed medical database.

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We've tested PubMed.ai for you and would like to share our experiences.

After an intensive test run of PubMed.ai, our conclusion is clear: The application is currently not yet suitable for professional use.

Here is an overview of the most important observations:

1. English only — a clear minus point

Even on the first try, it is noticeable that PubMed.ai only understands English input and only gives English output. For many users in other language areas, this is a significant disadvantage, as convenient research in their own language is not possible. That is not in keeping with the times.

2. No processing of Layman's language

Even those who formulate medical questions in everyday language immediately reach limits. PubMed.ai only understands precise, technical language queries — another obstacle for users without in-depth medical knowledge.

3. Classic search queries are interpreted as text

It's interesting that classic PubMed-style searches (e.g.”Buzzword AND Buzzword AND Buzzword“) can be treated as running text by PubMed.ai  This leads to a different presentation of results, which can be quite exciting for experienced users, but also to unexpected results.

4. Weaknesses in bibliographic references

Another shortcoming: In the edition text, only some references are usually mentioned directly, while further references are listed — but without clear citations in the text. This makes it difficult to understand the results and is inadequate for scientific work.

5. Lack of top-class sources

Anyone hoping for high-quality, relevant literature will be disappointed: The sources shown do not meet the expectations of well-founded research. Many relevant and high-ranking publications are not even displayed.

6. Inappropriate sources

A closer look at the titles and summaries of the proposed literature makes it clear that the selected sources are not suitable for the question posed. This significantly reduces the usefulness of the application.

7. Too narrow focus in results

The generated answer texts are heavily focused on a very specific sub-question and do not provide a comprehensive overview. This is not helpful for users who want to quickly gain a broad insight.

Our Conclusion

PubMed.ai currently cannot be recommended for professional use in medical literature research. The developers still have a lot of work ahead of them to make the practical application. Until then, the classic PubMed search remains our first choice or working with professional LLM, which focuses the search on PubMed and then enables us to get started.

We'll stay up to date for you and report as soon as there's news or improvements!

Do you have any questions or your own experiences with PubMed.ai? Feel free to write to us!

Your MEDIACC team

... MEDIACC is still working!

As is now a good tradition with us, a team of MEDIACC runners signed up again this year for the 5x5 team relay across Berlin's Tiergarten. The track is now just as familiar as the processes, so that our “old hands” formed a brisk quintet with the support of new sports spirits. The weather played along: the Tuesday afternoon was pleasantly summery, with fresh breezes but no rain, making running and picnics as usual fun. As an innovation this year, there were small medals that can be assembled into a pentych — a nice addition to MediaCC's growing small trophy collection. 👍

What's new in 2025 on the topic of “application observations”?

On the pages of an ethics committee, applicants have recently found the category “application monitoring” under the categorization of their clinical trial for some interventional randomized controlled clinical trials involving medical devices.

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This is new and applies to the Berlin Medical Association. Here, such studies that fall under §47 paragraph 3 MPDG - formerly §23b of the MPG - are referred to as: “Application monitoring in accordance with Section 47 paragraph 3 Medical Device Implementation Act (formerly §23b Medical Devices Act)”.

This is therefore contrary to the definition of the Working Group of Medical Ethics Commissions (AKEK), according to which: “Application observations are non-interventional studies in which the use of a medical device under everyday conditions is documented without the doctor being influenced by a predetermined test plan in his/her treatment decision. The decision to use the product is independent of participation in the study.”

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We are excited to see how this will unravel!

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MEDIACC ist neues Mitglied im BVMA

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Wir freuen uns, bekannt geben zu dürfen, dass MEDIACC ab sofort Mitglied im Bundesverband Medizinischer Auftragsinstitute e.V. (BVMA) ist.

Der BVMA ist die führende Interessenvertretung der in Deutschland ansässigen Contract Research Organisations (CROs) und steht seit über 30 Jahren für höchste Qualitätsstandards, Transparenz und Integrität in der klinischen Forschung. Voraussetzung für die Aufnahme ist die erfolgreiche Teilnahme an einem umfassenden Qualitätssicherungsprogramm, das die Einhaltung internationaler Standards wie ICH-GCP sicherstellt und regelmäßig durch unabhängige Audits überprüft wird.

Mit der Mitgliedschaft im BVMA unterstreicht MEDIACC den eigenen Anspruch, klinische Studien von Medizinprodukten auf höchstem Niveau und nach anerkannten Qualitätsstandards durchzuführen, neben der Zertifizierung seines Informationssicherheitsmanagementsystems. Gleichzeitig profitieren wir vom intensiven fachlichen Austausch im Netzwerk, aktuellen Informationen aus Gesetzgebung und Behörden sowie exklusiven Fort- und Weiterbildungsangeboten für unsere optimal durchgeführten Studien.

Wir freuen uns auf die Zusammenarbeit mit den anderen Mitgliedsunternehmen und darauf, die Zukunft der klinischen Forschung in Deutschland gemeinsam aktiv mitzugestalten.

Innovative, network-strengthening, inspiring, pioneering!

We are looking back on three intensive trade fair days in Berlin: DMEA 2025 once again showed how digitalization is driving the healthcare industry forward — and we are proud to be part of this change.

A special thank you to all customers, partners and interested parties who visited our stand and enriched us with valuable talks and discussions. We are all eagerly awaiting the appointment of BMG and hope for support with relevant health issues.

The outstanding organisation of the DMEA trade fair also helped us to concentrate fully on exchanging ideas — an all-round successful event!

Summary of the article for MEDIACC website:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare: It optimises medical processes, supports doctors with diagnostics and therapy, and relieves administrative tasks by automating administrative tasks. A thesis paper from the Federal Medical Association (BAEK) underlines the potential of AI, but at the same time emphasises that medical expertise and final decisions remain irreplaceable. In order to effectively integrate AI into care, BAEK is calling for an adjustment of medical education — with a focus on digital skills, ethical-legal aspects and critical evaluation of AI tools. It is also crucial to use AI solutions specifically where they close supply deficiencies, for example through evidence-based prioritization.

As a specialist in clinical studies, MEDIACC welcomes BAEK's call for evidence-based validation of AI systems. Our core competence lies in demonstrating the medical benefits and supply effects of innovative technologies through rigorous studies. In AI applications in particular, clinical trials are essential to prove safety, effectiveness and suitability for practice — whether in diagnostic algorithms, treatment planning or patient monitoring. This is the only way to sustainably integrate AI tools into everyday clinical practice without undermining medical due diligence. MediaCC supports medical professionals and manufacturers in developing and testing AI solutions specifically for real care problems. Through our work, we are helping to ensure that AI is not only used innovatively, but also in a patient-oriented and compliant manner — always with the aim of increasing the quality of treatment and freeing up resources for human attention.

Hooray!

From April 8 to 10, 2025, it's that time again: DMEA, Europe's leading trade fair for digital health, will take place in Berlin. Global players from all over the world with innovations as far as the eye can see will meet. Of course, MEDIACC should not be absent from such a meeting, and so we will be represented with a stand in the “DiGA and Mobile Health focus area.”

Would you like to meet us there?

You can find us here:

Hall 2.2, stand number C-115

We're here:

Tue/Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Thu: 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

About the program:

https://www.dmea.de/de/programm/gesamtprogramm/

We are looking forward to exciting discussions!

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MEDIACC is pleased to announce a special award for our team: A member of our management team has been accepted into a worldwide network of outstanding scientists!

This nomination underlines the excellence and innovative spirit that MEDIACC has stood for since its founding in 2013.

Recognition at the highest level

Joining this exclusive network is confirmation of the groundbreaking work we do every day. We are thus joining a select group of around 100 leading international scientists who work together to pool knowledge, initiate new research and develop evidence-based recommendations for action.

Significance for MEDIACC

This award not only strengthens the profile of the nominated person, but also the spirit of the entire company. It underscores our position as experts in digital clinical trials and our commitment to improving medical care by supporting innovative technologies.

 We are convinced that this networking with leading scientists from all over the world will provide new impetus for our work. There will be opportunities for collaboration, sharing best practices, and developing cutting-edge solutions in clinical research, and we are looking forward to it.

MEDIACC warmly congratulates you on this outstanding recognition and looks forward to the exciting developments that will arise in the future.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently launched the HMA-EMA catalogues for Real-World Data (RWD), which serve as comprehensive repositories for metadata from RWD sources and studies. These catalogs replace and expand the previous EU PAS Register® and EncePP Resource Database databases. They cover four main areas: data sources (238), studies (2976), institutions (770) and networks (178).

The aim of these catalogs is to help regulators, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers identify and use data to study the use, safety, and effectiveness of drugs. The catalogues are used to find suitable data sources, to evaluate the suitability of data sources, to improve interoperability between studies and data sources and to increase transparency. The EMA is currently (until 17.1.2025) carrying out a survey on the usability of the catalogues in order to further improve the system. For data owners, there are special instructions on how to access their previously published data sets in the new catalogs.

This initiative can lead to improved transparency and efficiency in medical research. Your success depends on the extent to which users can benefit from this.

Source and detailed information https://catalogues. ema. europa. eu/ (delete space for link)

“I have been working as a doctor at MEDIACC for a year, a competent partner for monitoring and carrying out clinical studies.

As part of my doctoral thesis, which I am writing at Charité in parallel, I was offered a stay abroad in Bangkok a few months ago. This opportunity appealed to me very much, but at the same time presented me with the challenge of having to work remotely at MEDIACC in the future.

Fortunately, I received support from MEDIACC in this project immediately after the decision was made. The departure to Bangkok was imminent and I had to be equipped with the necessary technology and know-how for remote work within a very short period of time. I was supported and promoted by the entire team.

Thanks to the well-thought-out programs and work processes at MEDIACC, I am now able to work seamlessly as a team and at the same time to operate independently from Bangkok. This flexibility is invaluable to me, as it allows me to continue to fulfill my professional obligations while moving closer to the goal of completing my dissertation. My work includes conducting patient interviews and handling sensitive data. As a doctor, I see it as my central task to ensure the well-being of my patients. Due to the strict data security measures, I can also do this from Bangkok.

I've been here in Thailand for several weeks now. Everything is new and strange, which can sometimes be challenging. I am all the more grateful that I can also work remotely with the people I know from working in Berlin at MEDIACC. The support from my team has helped me get used to it quickly and focus on my work.

Overall, I am very grateful for the support and effort that Dr. Schmidt-Lucke in particular has invested as my supervisor so that I can complete this stay abroad. The opportunity to work internationally while pursuing my academic goals is a valuable experience that advances my professional development.

I am looking forward to continuing to be part of the MEDIACC team and working together on innovative solutions in clinical research — no matter where I am. ”

— Ewa Brunner, study doctor at MEDIACC