Nucleus Network AI Agent Streamlines Clinical Trial Volunteer Screening
Nucleus Network, an Australian clinical research organization, has integrated an AI agent named Nora to streamline the volunteer screening process for clinical trials. Previously handled by a contact center, Nora now operates 24/7 on the company’s website, guiding potential participants through nine screening questions to assess eligibility and matching them with suitable studies. According to Jeremy Collins, Nucleus Network’s chief digital officer, this shift has improved efficiency, with volunteers arriving better informed and more aligned with trial requirements.
The AI agent, built on Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, took about five months to develop with implementation partner OSF Digital. Nora focuses on administrative tasks, such as explaining trial involvement and providing details on study dates and reimbursement, while human recruiters handle further screening and clinic visits. The company reports shorter calls and higher-quality participants as a result of using Nora, leading to better conversion rates and operational gains.
Nucleus Network operates clinics in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Minneapolis, and London, following its acquisition of a London site in August 2025. The organization uses Salesforce’s Life Sciences Cloud to manage patient data locally in each country. While AI governance at Nucleus Network prioritizes administrative and operational applications, the company is also exploring smaller AI experiments, such as generating trial budgets and schedules from draft protocols, which significantly reduces the time required for these tasks.
Despite the FDA’s interest in AI for drug development, the industry remains cautious due to regulatory constraints. Collins emphasized that Nucleus Network is not currently using AI for clinical decision-making but is open to expanding its use in administrative areas, such as appointment bookings, to further enhance efficiency.