SCRS Talks

The importance of diversity in clinical research has been a hot topic in the industry for many years. Led by Diana Foster, SCRS’ Vice President of Special Projects and Strategy, SCRS established its Diversity Awareness Program in 2016 and has developed several tools to further this important industry initiative. In this episode, Foster also discusses the program's newest accomplishment, the D...

Each year at the Global Site Solutions Summit, SCRS selects the Site Patient Recruitment Innovation Award (SPRIA) and Site Tank award winners. Hear from last year's recipients, Clinical Trials of Texas and Accelerated Enrollment Solutions (AES), respectively, as they reflect on what receiving these awards has done for their site, how they have tackled the challenges 2020 presented, and what t...

SCRS has an exciting Asia-Pacific Site Solutions Summit planned for July 13-14, 2021! Although we cannot be together in person down in Melbourne, Australia, our virtual experience will provide two days full of interactive and informative sessions. Tam C. Nguyen, FRSPH, FAIM, F. AustRMS, PhD, MBA, and Summit Chair for the 2021 SCRS Asia-Pac Site Solutions Summit, shares why you should consider join...

Clinical Trials Day is a special occasion for SCRS. This year, we took time to reflect on what being part of this important work means to us and the tremendous challenge that our industry overcame in 2020 and early 2021. When we stopped to think of truly inspiring and innovative progress that was made in spite of these challenges Pfizer was the first organization that came to mind. We had the oppo...

The 2021 European Site Solutions Summit is upon us! SCRS has some world-class content planned for this year’s summit, being held as a virtual experience April 20, 21, and 22nd. We sat down with Vivienne van de Walle, the European Site Solutions Summit program chair and the Owner and Medical Director at PT&R, a site in the Netherlands to learn about what this upcoming summit has to offer attend...

The 2021 Global Oncology Site Solutions Summit, Virtual Experience will be one to remember. Although we can't be together in person this year, SCRS is showcasing some great content this year that will help the Oncology community take their work to the next level. Hear from the SCRS Oncology program chair, Archana Sah as she teases some of the great content taking place at this year's Onc...

"Innovation" is a term often used to describe many things, particularly in the clinical research space. Our industry's need for meaningful innovation has never been more apparent than it is right now. We sit down with Craig Lipset, the Managing Partner of Clinical Innovation Partners and Assistant Professor of Health Informatics at Rutgers University to discuss what innovation looks...

Understanding the nuances and proper tactics for negotiating a budget with a clinical research trial pharmaceutical sponsor could be considered an art to some. We sit down with Dawn Pittinger at BioOptronics to discuss and learn where the current state of negotiating with a sponsor is in today's rapidly changing world, as well as tactics that can be employed to help assure success at the rese...

Recruiting clinical research patients is often times a tremendous challenge for a site. In the era of COVID-19, this problem has only grown more difficult to manage. Matt Miller, President of StudyKik discusses what these challenges are and how they are different in our current environment as well as ways to overcome those unique challenges. It is critically important to understand how recruitment...

For years, sites have been talking about and navigating through traditional remote site monitoring, where a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) from a Sponsor or CRO performs monitoring activities remotely, over the phone and via email to reduce trips to the site. However, in the age of decentralized trials companies have pioneered a new ways to effectively monitor sites remotely. In comes VirtualPr...

As many in the clinical research industry adopt work-from-home policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a critical time to consider the cyber security of your work. There are people out there looking for opportunities to take advantage of the situation and are attempting to hack our computers and access business data. It is important that businesses consider cyber insurance as added pr...

In terms of the service the site provides to the sponsor of a study, regulatory work is of utmost importance -- and many times a defining factor of service quality overall. Especially in the time of COVID, regulatory teams are burdened with figuring out how to make sure this critical work is done and done well even when everyone involved is not in the same room. But, many regulatory teams have fig...

Oncology trials present a unique challenge in the clinical research space, particularly when it comes to patient recruitment. The identification windows are narrow, yet participation in precision trials can have life saving options for many patients with an unfortunate diagnosis. The CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Lens, Dave Billiter talks with us about how this recruitment is such a challenge and wha...

Decentralized clinical trials in a post COVID-19 world are undoubtedly here to stay. Recent events have had a drastic effect that is likely lasting as it relates to trials at the site levels. This can be a positive thing. Much of what sites can do now is prepare for this new future and VirTrial's Senior Vice President of Business Development, Amanda Rangel talks with us about just that. There...

Budgets for clinical trials are always a highly discussed topic and one that SCRS regularly addresses with our partners on behalf of sites. Catherine Click, Greenphire's director of clinical pricing and analysis talks with us about how sites can "get their ducks in a row" to better negotiate and justify their study budgets. Not only can sites be more effective in their negotiations,...

IQVIA Technologies is focused on using innovation to enable better relationships with sites. Part of this strategy is centered around remote data monitoring strategies to address reducing staffing and CRA mobility. MaryAnne Rizk, PhD with IQVIA Technologies discusses how these technologies ensure patient and staff safety amidst the current pandemic, as well as how we can all work better to keep cu...

Amidst these interesting times in the age of COVID-19, we know that this has already affected sites, CRO's and Sponsors.  It's not over yet and we don’t know the long-term impact from the disruption. What we do know is that all stakeholders are repositioning, trial continuity is front and center, and sites are focused on site and study sustainability through retention efforts and are qui...

COVID-19 has highlighted a need for patients, sites, and sponsors to work together more effectively and remotely. Yet, efforts to do so are often limited by systems and processes that limit data sharing and collaboration. We’re sitting down with Bree Burks from Veeva Systems to discuss new opportunities to address this challenge by making it easier for study partners to work together across the fu...

We sat down with Lauren Litzinger at Pfizer to discuss virtual monitoring of clinical research sites and studies. We are seeing a shift in how monitoring is being conducted in the wake of COVID-19 and the requirement for so many activities to go virtual and digital. Monitoring is no exception. Various options for data verification and review are discussed, as well as what are some of the changes b...

IQVIA Technologies has focused on three important areas for deploying technology to support sites. Melissa Easy from IQVIA discusses with us how technology is affecting sites, sponsors, and CROs and how their approach to technology is changing the relationship. The focus has to be on how technology can make the lives of sites easier, and addressing the concerns sites have specifically around payme...

In this special Clinical Trials Day and Melanoma Month feature, hear from two Melanoma survivors as they discuss the insurmountable odds faced by their diagnosis and subsequent illness. The challenges they faced with not only the initial treatment, but also those experienced by the clinical trial process. Both T.J. Sharpe and David Aizer share their unique perspectives on their journey's and...

With the immediate and pressing need for sites to incorporate virtual elements, we talked with Anthony Costello at Medidata on what is being done in the industry to support the new way of performing clinical trials. Discussion centers around unified platforms and how these types of solutions can be beneficial for not only sites and patients, but the entire industry. There are several advantages of...

Clinical trials are moving towards trends of using more and more technology, even before COVID-19. This trend doesn't mean the role of the site has diminished, but just changed. What tools do sites need to help them succeed? How can flexible payment systems, direct-to-patient services, and telemedicine platforms enable site success?  Greenphire's Zach Hales discusses the different ways i...

In an effort to ensure clinical trial continuity in the midst of COVID-19, more and more sponsors are moving towards Direct-to-Patient models to ensure patient access to medications. In order for sites to adequately prepare for this new approach, it is imperative to understand current trends and challenges as sponsors are approaching these models differently depending on their study and supply cha...

The Covid-19 pandemic caught everyone by surprise. Now that some time has passed and we are acclimating to the current climate, what should sites be thinking about when it comes to risk management and insurance?   This is not just an insurance discussion - it’s a discussion about risk. This includes the increased use of telemedicine and prevalence of decentralized clinical trials. This final inter...