R&D leaders face increasing pressure to accelerate development as clinical data becomes more complex and harder to manage at scale. Clinical trials now generate data across more sources, partners and modalities than ever before.
Many organizations still rely on fragmented, study-specific workflows that slow access to usable data, increase duplication and introduce risk late in development. At the same time, development teams are expected to move faster, reuse data across studies and meet increasing regulatory expectations with fewer delays.
ZS and Databricks advance AI-ready clinical data speed and reliability across R&D
ZS and Databricks are collaborating to deliver Clinical Data Hub to organizations on the Databricks platform. ZS’s Clinical Data Hub brings greater speed and scalability to clinical trial data across development, applying FAIR principles so data is easier to find, access, integrate and reuse. It supports regulatory readiness and enables faster insight generation.
Clinical Data Hub enables faster data availability and more efficient use of clinical resources across R&D. This approach aligns with ZS’s “Data at the Speed of Light“ perspective, which reflects a shift toward clinical data moving at the pace of development rather than being constrained by fragmented, study-specific workflows, allowing teams to move from ingestion to analysis with greater speed and confidence, supporting better decisions throughout development.
A single clinical data hub supporting trusted data and AI
Built natively on the Databricks Platform, Clinical Data Hub enables life sciences organizations to ingest, harmonize, govern and analyze structured and unstructured clinical data within a single environment while reducing data duplication and preserving governance.
AI works best when data is consistent, governed and reusable. Clinical Data Hub provides that foundation, enabling teams to use AI reliably from exploratory analysis through submission. This approach allows teams to prepare submission-ready datasets while also applying AI and advanced analytics for exploratory purposes to the same governed data, without duplicating data or creating parallel systems.
“Trusted data is essential to modern clinical development,” said Michael Sanky, VP of Healthcare and Life Sciences GTM at Databricks. “ZS combines clinical domain expertise with the technical discipline required to operationalize enterprise AI in regulated environments.”
Enabling new workflows and a new operating model for better insights and faster decisions
By supporting continuous data readiness and reuse across workflows, Clinical Data Hub powers new, modern workflows for submission and exploratory pathways. Teams across clinical data management, biostatistics, statistical programming, translational sciences, exploratory medicine and more can apply AI and deterministic automation to reduce cycle times between key milestones, automate data harmonization, and support a greater volume of work with the same personnel.
Clinical Data Hub enables a transformational shift in operating model. Roles can be reimagined for AI within regulated workflows without compromising quality, traceability or control and powered by a data foundation designed natively for AI. Users can now shift from manual and operational work to focus more on higher order, judgment-based decisions required to run better trials as well as supporting a higher-trial throughput.
“R&D leaders are under pressure to increase speed and volume without sacrificing confidence, quality and trial integrity,” said Jeff Rieske, who leads ZS’s global Biometrics and Clinical Data practice. “Clinical Data Hub provides the trusted clinical data and semantic foundation to power tomorrow’s agentic operating models and clinical data workflows delivering rapid insights across submission and exploratory pathways.”
Advancing a growing ZS and Databricks collaboration in life sciences
This announcement builds on ZS’s broader collaboration with Databricks and follows ZS being named the recipient of the 2026 Databricks Life Sciences Partner of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. The recognition reflects the strength of the partnership and its impact in helping life sciences organizations modernize data foundations and accelerate insight generation.
About ZS
ZS is a management consulting and technology firm that partners with companies to improve life and how we live it. We transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Founded in 1983, ZS has more than 15,000 employees in over 40 offices worldwide. To learn more, visit www.zs.com or follow us on LinkedIn.