For medical imaging clinical trials, pharmaceutical sponsors are often presented with two distinct operational models. On one side stands Clario, the industry’s consolidated leader for multi-endpoint data collection. On the other stands Collective Minds Research, a specialized cloud platform focused exclusively on imaging velocity and connectivity.
Both organizations serve the clinical research market effectively but solve different problems for different types of trials. This article provides an objective, side-by-side analysis of their respective capabilities, helping study teams determine which partner aligns best with their specific protocol requirements.
Clario is best suited for broad, multi-endpoint trials. Its primary strength lies in its ability to bundle medical imaging with cardiac safety, respiratory, and eCOA (electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment) services under a single, global contract. It represents the "integrated suite" approach.
Collective Minds Research is best suited for imaging-critical trials. Its primary strength lies in its specialized infrastructure that connects directly to hospital modalities for real-time data access and global radiologist collaboration. It represents the "best-of-breed" approach.
Formed through the merger of ERT and Bioclinica, Clario has established itself as a cornerstone of the global clinical trial infrastructure. Currently backed by Nordic Capital and Astorg (with a planned acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific announced in late 2025), Clario offers a level of scale and regulatory heritage that is often a requirement for massive Phase III studies.
Clario’s most significant advantage is its breadth. For sponsors running complex global trials, Clario can serve as a single vendor for nearly all patient data streams. A study team can contract Clario for Cardiac Safety (ECG), Respiratory (Spirometry), Precision Motion, and Medical Imaging simultaneously. This integration simplifies vendor management for procurement teams and allows for unified data transfers to the sponsor’s data lake.
Clario utilizes a proprietary web-based submission tool called SMART Submit. This technology is designed to ensure rigorous compliance at the point of entry. It applies over 150 automated edit checks to DICOM files before they leave the site, verifying that data meets protocol specifications (e.g., correct slice thickness, de-identification rules). This structured workflow provides a high degree of standardization, ensuring that data arriving at the core lab is consistent across thousands of global sites.
You might also like to read: Complete Guide to Imaging Core Labs in Clinical Trials
With a heritage dating back to Bioclinica, Clario maintains a robust internal scientific team. Their Medical Imaging division employs over 30 physicians and 35 scientists internally, supported by a network of hundreds of board-certified radiologists. This internal capacity allows them to handle massive volumes of data with a structured, "factory-like" consistency that is essential for regulatory approval in large-scale indications like Alzheimer’s or metabolic disease.
Collective Minds takes a different approach, focusing less on breadth and more on the depth and speed of the imaging workflow itself. Built on modern cloud-native architecture, the platform is designed to remove the friction associated with traditional image transfer and review.
While traditional workflows rely on site staff to manually upload files, Collective Minds leverages its proprietary Connect technology. This solution integrates directly with the imaging site’s PACS or modality, creating a secure pipeline that streams data to the central platform as soon as it is acquired. This "zero-click" approach reduces the administrative burden on site coordinators and allows central reviewers to begin quality control (QC) almost immediately, significantly shortening the feedback loop to the site.
Unlike traditional vendors that must build site relationships from scratch for each trial, Collective Minds leverages a massive, pre-existing ecosystem. This "warm network" consists of two distinct elements that accelerate study startup:
Because the Collective Minds platform was built as a single, unified codebase, it offers exceptional transparency. Sponsors can log in and view the real-time status of every image in the pipeline—from the moment it leaves the scanner to the moment it is locked by the reader. This "glass box" approach allows clinical operations teams to proactively manage site performance and identify bottlenecks before they impact trial timelines.
Collective Minds Research pipeline builder screen, the core of building the medical imaging clinical trial logic.
The decision between Clario and Collective Minds Research often comes down to the specific strategic priorities of the trial.
| Feature | Clario | Collective Minds Research |
| Primary Value | Consolidation: Bundling multiple endpoints (eCOA, Cardiac, Imaging) for operational efficiency. | Specialization: Maximizing the speed and quality of the medical imaging endpoint. |
| Site Workflow | SMART Submit: A structured, web-based upload portal with rigorous pre-submission checks. | Connect: Direct integration with site modalities for automated, near real-time data streaming. |
| Reader Model | Internal Core Lab: A structured team of internal scientists and managed external readers. | Global Network: Access to a vast, on-demand network of specialized radiologists and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). |
| Ideal Use Case | Large-scale Phase III trials requiring multiple endpoint types and a single, established vendor for risk mitigation. | Agile Phase I-II or Imaging-Critical Phase III trials requiring fast turnaround times and specialized radiological collaboration. |
Introduction to Collective Minds Research for CROs and Pharma.
Can I use Collective Minds Research if I am already using Clario for eCOA or Cardiac Safety?
Yes. It is common for sponsors to adopt a "best-of-breed" strategy. In this model, a sponsor might use Clario to manage broad endpoints like eCOA (electronic Clinical Outcome Assessments) and cardiac safety to leverage their global scale, while simultaneously carving out the medical imaging component to Collective Minds Research. This allows the study to benefit from Clario’s integrated data collection for safety endpoints while utilizing Collective Minds’ specialized speed and radiologist network for the critical imaging efficacy data.
How does the site experience differ between the two platforms?
The primary difference lies in the level of automation.
Are both platforms fully validated for regulatory submissions (FDA/EMA)?
Yes. Both companies operate under fully validated Quality Management Systems (QMS) compliant with global regulations, including 21 CFR Part 11, GDPR, and HIPAA.
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Reviewed by Pilar Flores Gastellu on February 10, 2026