What if the next revolution in clinical research wasn’t a new therapy, but artificial intelligence itself?

In this episode of Lightning RX, host Colette Nataf, founder of Lightning GTM, sits down with Dr. Keleni Tukia, MD, MBA, MPH, Founder and CEO of Sammari Health, to discuss how AI is transforming the way clinical trials are designed, managed, and delivered.

Dr. Tukia shares her journey from medicine to entrepreneurship, how years of seeing inefficiencies in research and regulatory processes led her to build a platform that uses AI to streamline clinical trial protocol development and accelerate medical innovation. From leaving the hospital system to founding a startup, she opens up about the challenges of pioneering a new category in digital health and what it takes to bring AI solutions into one of the world’s most regulated industries.

The conversation dives deep into the intersection of data science, medicine, and business leadership, exploring how AI-driven tools can shorten trial timelines, reduce human error, and empower researchers to focus on what matters most: improving patient outcomes.

What You’ll Learn:

• How clinical trial bottlenecks inspired the creation of Sammari Health
• Why AI can make trial design more accurate, adaptive, and efficient
• The challenges of integrating technology into regulated healthcare systems
• How Dr. Tukia’s medical and business background shaped her startup journey
• Lessons learned from building an AI company in the post-COVID health tech landscape
• Why timing, resilience, and team alignment are crucial in early-stage innovation
• How AI can help democratize access to clinical research opportunities
• The future of data-driven healthcare innovation

💡 Golden Nugget:

“AI won’t replace clinicians; it will free them to focus on patients, not paperwork.”

Connect with Dr. Keleni Tukia

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelenitukia
• Company: sammarihealth.com

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