Personal Improvement Computer Systems

Personal Improvement Computer Systems (PICS) was a specialized health technology company that pioneered the use of computerized systems for clinical trial management and behavioral health interventions. Based in Reston, Virginia, the company developed the Configurable Electronic Real-Time Assessment System (CERTAS), a foundational platform for Interactive Response Technology (IRT) and electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO). PICS was widely recognized for its innovative hand-held and telephone-based tools, such as LifeSign and QuitKey for smoking cessation, and DietMate for nutritional monitoring. The company was a major recipient of NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, which supported the development of its behavioral modification software. In 2006, the company's clinical technologies division was acquired by the Almac Group, where its expertise and software were integrated into Almac's global IXRS platform. Today, the legacy of PICS continues through the widespread use of IRT and ePRO technologies in modern clinical research.