Transforming Clinical Trials with Ripple Science

Season 1 Episode 10:

In this episode, we talk with Peter Falzon, president and CEO of Ripple Science, a clinical trials software company that spun out of the University of Michigan and now serves researchers around the world. Ripple’s platform helps academic institutions, healthcare providers, and industry sponsors recruit and retain participants in clinical studies, tackling one of the top reasons clinical trials fail.

Peter shares how he went from launching startups in Silicon Valley and Japan to becoming a mentor-in-residence back in Michigan, where he helped Ripple transition from a homegrown academic tool into a flexible, scalable platform. We discuss the challenges of participant engagement, why trials often struggle to meet recruitment goals, and how Ripple’s AI-powered tools help researchers do more with less. Peter also talks about building the company with support from Michigan’s university and venture capital ecosystems—and why now is a critical moment for clinical research innovation.

Host: David Washburn
Guest: Peter Falzon (President and CEO, Ripple Science)

Producers: Jenna McNamara and Doug Snitgen

Music: "Devil on Your Shoulder" by Will Harrison, licensed via Epidemic Sound



Stay connected with the MSU Research Foundation by following us on LinkedIn or subscribing to our email newsletters.