Duke Spinout launches platform to unite nursing and clinical research
People across the country continue to struggle with basic health care, and nearly one-third of Americans are currently lacking primary care providers. A Duke University spin on Tuesday launched a new nursing center designed to address the issue.
Durham, North Carolina-based Pluto Health is launching a digital hub designed to unify patients’ fragmented health data, provide personalized care navigation, and connect users with clinical research opportunities—all without prior insurance or relationships established with primary care providers.
Pluto was founded in 2020 to increase access to primary care and increase patients’ chances of participating in clinical research. Only 9% of U.S. adults are invited to participate in clinical trials, said Joy Bhosai, CEO and founder of Pluto.
The startup’s new hub connects users to real-time care options and aggregates patient health history, lab results, and diagnostic reports into one place. Using AI and clinician feedback, the platform also quickly identified what users might need, such as preventive screening or research studies, Bhosai explained.
“[Patients] Connect their health history, evaluate with the help of AI and clinicians, review tailored options, and interact immediately with CARE or research opportunities. This could mean ordering lab tests from their home, chatting with clinicians on demand or matching with clinical trials – all from one hub. ” she said.
In her opinion, the hub makes it easier for patients to take timely and wise actions. Instead of fusing their care journey together, Pluto's platform gives patients a clear understanding of their health and viable next steps, Bhosai said.
She added that the hub could also make research participation more accessible by reducing redundant paperwork and pre-screening failures.
“This can ultimately help people feel supported rather than isolated on their health journey,” Bosey declared.
For her, Pluto's competitors are traditional telehealth providers, digital health platforms and clinical trial recruitment companies. She believes her company will distinguish itself because it does not view care and research as separate areas.
“Instead, we integrate them into a seamless hub. Others focus on any kind of care delivery. or Research enrollment, we unify both – helping patients to act towards health needs and research opportunities. ” Bhosai said.
So far, Pluto has tracked over 15 million health encounters on its platform.
Bosai noted that she named the startup to reflect its mission.
“Like the planet at the edge of our solar system, patients at the edge of health care (people who are ignored in the care desert or the system) should be supported. Pluto reminds people to make sense far away.”
Photo: Momo Productions, Get Get Images
