Cain Harland, one of the minds behind Spiral's Spinnaker software, is not your typical Developer. His unique journey blends his passion for problem-solving with a commitment to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.

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A Unique Pathway

Born and raised in Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, Cain pursued a biology degree straight out of school before becoming a personal trainer. Creating his own website for PT Training made him realise he had a natural affinity for building and designing digital solutions, so he embarked upon a design degree with Natcoll (now Yoobee). This chance discovery set the stage for a rewarding career that has spanned two decades with Spiral.

“It feels like Spiral has always been a part of my life.”

Cain's journey with Spiral began in Wellington, where he initially worked in our company's office. His transition into remote work reflects the adaptability and resilience that characterise both his personal and professional life. It was during this remote stint, even from the Chatham Islands, that Cain played a pivotal role in shaping some of Spiral's groundbreaking projects.

“I get treated so well at Spiral. There’s a lot of freedom in working from home. Great to be here for my son and have that flexibility with him.”

Every Day a New Challenge

As a Lead Technical Developer, Cain's day-to-day involves more than just coding. He’s behind the planning and architecture, steering projects toward success. One of his passions lies in creating practical and efficient implementations of response adaptive randomisation, a testament to his problem-solving abilities. 

The world of clinical trials is complex and ever-changing, but Cain’s expertise means key inclusions such as eligibility assessment and randomisation can be implemented frequently and with tangible impact within our trials.

“REMAP-CAP was our first responsive adaptive trial that had a model of all the domains and interventions - one of the largest and most complicated that I know about - it was very interesting to work on and to find the practical ways of implementing response adaptive randomisation.”

An Unprecedented Workday

One of the highlights of Cain's career is his involvement in the REMAP-CAP trial, a groundbreaking responsive adaptive trial that pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible in such a short space of time during the pandemic.

“Knowing I could apply my own logic to it, that other people haven't thought of before was rewarding.”

While others hesitated, Cain and the team embraced the challenge, showing that a change in perspective can solve even the most challenging puzzles. The project's success during the pandemic lockdown highlighted Cain's dedication, with almost 14-hour workdays contributing to the fight against COVID-19.

“It was one long work day but one in which I could really sink my teeth into the REMAP-CAP project. Working on the pandemic as it was happening, it was good to feel useful at the time, knowing I was contributing to the way out of it.”

Unprecedented in so many ways, Cain describes the experience as a memorable one, one in which the learnings taken from it could then be applied to all the subsequent trials Spiral has been involved in since.

A Passion for Problem Solving

Cain's love for problem-solving extends beyond the digital realm. Whether it's honing his skills in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, diving, or mastering the art of the BBQ, he approaches each challenge with the same determination.

Reflecting on his journey, Cain emphasises the reward of solving problems and making meaningful contributions to medical science. The satisfaction he gets from cracking challenges that others believe are unsolvable motivates him more than anything else. 

For Cain, it's not just about saving lives; it's about making a difference, be it in reducing organ damage, shortening ICU stays for patients, or implementing small but impactful changes on a larger scale.

“I love solving problems, it motivates me in my work more than anything else. I love to have a puzzle to work through and solve. Feeling our work is meaningful is important, advancing medical knowledge and saving people's lives, improving outcomes for patients.”