A prototype model of zero trust architecture blockchain with EigenTrust-based practical Byzantine fault tolerance protocol to manage decentralized clinical trials

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the emergence of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) due to patient retention, accelerating trials, improving data accessibility, enabling virtual care, and facilitating seamless communication through integrated systems. However, integrating systems in DCTs exposes clinical data to potential security threats, making them susceptible to theft at any stage, a high risk of protocol deviations, and monitoring issues. To mitigate these challenges, blockchain technology serves as a secure framework, acting as a decentralized ledger, creating an immutable environment by establishing a zero-trust architecture, where data are deemed untrusted until verified. In combination with Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled wearable devices, blockchain secures the transfer of clinical trial data on private blockchains during DCT automation and operations. This paper proposes a prototype model of the zero-Trust Architecture Blockchain (z-TAB) to integrate patient-generated clinical trial data during DCT operation management. The EigenTrust-based Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (T-PBFT) algorithm has been incorporated as a consensus protocol, leveraging Hyperledger Fabric. Furthermore, the IoT has been integrated to streamline data processing among stakeholders within the blockchain platforms. Rigorous evaluation has been done for immutability, privacy and security, mutual consensus, transparency, accountability, tracking and tracing, and temperature‒humidity control parameters.