Note to File: A Clinical Research Podcast

Are research sites doing everything twice for no good reason? In this Sticky Notes episode, Denali and Brad get real about eSource, EDC, and who should actually own site-facing tech. They move past the buzzwords and tackle the uncomfortable questions: Why is sponsor tech so fragmented for sites? If we're already entering everything into EDC, why do we still need separate source? Why isn't direct d...

Today on  Note to File, we riff on everything from **Air Max Day** to the very real challenges facing clinical trial sites in 2026. We start light with sneaker talk and "national days," then dive into three meaty topics for the clinical research community: 1. **The Ethics & Psychology of Trial Acronyms**      - Are names like **HERCULES**, **IRONMAN**, or **CINDERELLA** harmless branding or subtle...

It's March 24th and we're back with another **Sticky Notes** edition of **Note to File: A Clinical Research Podcast**—where we mix serious industry topics with just the right amount of nonsense. In this episode, we cover: - 🥩 **National Cheesesteak Day** (plus cocktails, "National Stephanie Day," and the strangely titled *International Day for the Right to the Truth…*)   - 💊 **National Adverse D...

Ever feel like life – and clinical research – are both a little chaotic and unpredictable… kind of like March weather and tornado season in Oklahoma? In this **Sticky Notes** episode of **Note to File**, Brad and Denali kick things off with some real-life banter:   - Spring break in **Oklahoma City**   - Unseasonably **90-degree** days   - The joy and dread of **tornado-adjacent season**   - How M...

Are we turning "clinically proven" into just another marketing buzzword? In this Sticky Notes live episode, Denali and Brad dive into how the public encounters *clinical trials* not through journals or regulators, but through mushroom coffee emails, peptide ads, and GLP‑1 hype on social media. From biohacking with gray‑market peptides to the underrepresentation of women in research, this conversat...

From raccoons with thumbs to $3.5B drug factories, this Sticky Note goes from absurd to deadly serious pretty fast. In this episode, we dig into three big themes shaping the future of clinical research: 1. Lilly's $3.5B U.S. Manufacturing Bet New mega‑facility in Pennsylvania and three more planned in the U.S. How policy, tariffs, and incentives are pulling drug manufacturing back onshore What thi...

In this episode of Sticky Notes, Brad and Denali debrief from the VIVE conference in LA, where they discovered just how little most health systems, CIOs, and IT vendors really understand about clinical research. From translating basic terms like CTMS and CRC into plain language, to explaining why research even matters to hospitals and health plans, we dig into the massive awareness gap between car...

In this episode of Note to File, Denali and Brad sit down with Dr. Brad Hall, founder of Senge, a boutique CRO focused on investigator-initiated trials (IITs) in eye care. They break down how independent clinicians can turn real-world questions from daily practice into publishable clinical research. In this conversation, we cover: -Why most IITs in eye care actually happen in private practice, not...

-Are CROs "necessary evil" partners or overhyped money machines — and what does ICON's 50% stock plunge really tell us about the state of clinical research? In this Sticky Notes episode of Note to File, we riff on everything from conferences and culture to credibility and regulation in our industry, including: -ICON's revenue overstatement and the brutal market reaction -What a 2% revenue error re...

Live from SCOPE in Orlando, we're talking honestly about the clinical research conference circuit—what works, what doesn't, and why it all feels a little… exhausting. In this episode of Note to File, we cover: -What it's really like navigating a 5,000‑person conference with 200+ vendors -Why every year we hear the same challenges in clinical research, over and over -How the AI hype is shifting fro...

In this Sticky Notes episode of the Note to File podcast, Brad and Denali dig into Walmart's new partnership with Care Access to launch clinical research sites inside shuttered Walmart health clinics. We talk about: -Why Walmart is re-entering clinical research now -How shuttered retail clinics are being repurposed as research sites -The broader story of retail pharmacies (Walmart, Walgreens, CVS,...

Are independent research sites slowly being squeezed out of existence—or is there more opportunity than ever? In this episode of Note to File, Brad and Denali sit down with Dan Sfera for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the real state of clinical research: consolidation, private equity, AI, site networks, and what it all means for the people actually running studies and caring for patients....

Get ready for a flavorful kickoff to 2026 with the latest Note to File podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, Denali and Brad serve up laughter and insight—from opening with comedic banter and cheese puns (did you know it's National Cheese Lovers Day?) to swapping stories about their favorite cheeses and regional cheese culture. But that's just the appetizer! Dive into the latest trends from the JPM confere...

Denali and Brad welcome Dr. Les Enterline, a seasoned physician assistant and industry leader, to discuss the evolving landscape of CRO models—Full Service Outsourcing (FSO) vs. Functional Service Partnerships (FSP)—and their impact on sponsors, sites, and patients.  Discover: • Dr. Enterline's compelling career journey from clinical practice to industry leadership • The inner workings and real-wo...

In this New Year's special, we kick things off with gym woes, bacon vs. sausage debates, and a little dose of existential career crisis. Then it's on to the real meat: wild AI spin-outs, the hard truths about commercializing tech in trials, AstraZeneca's eye-opening drug recall, and bold (plus slightly pessimistic) predictions for 2026. A re rising healthcare costs going to split trial participati...

Join Denali and Brad as we mix a little fun with some real industry insight. We kick things off with light commentary on oddball holidays before diving into the big issues in clinical research—recent FDA guidance, the ongoing push for site- and patient-centricity, and ways to make trials more inclusive. Listen in for our honest takes and predictions for 2026, including thoughts on AI, DEI, and wha...

In this episode of Note to File, Denali and Brad go deep on National Stupid Toy Day: from Tamagotchis and Furbys to pet rocks and that one toy guaranteed to make your parents question their life choices. What's your favorite stupid toy? Tell us. We want to laugh (or cringe) with you. But it's not all just fun and games—we break down the big moves in the clinical research industry: Paradigm Health'...

In this episode of Note to File, Denali and Brad navigate the strange limbo between holiday distractions and end-of-year clinical trial deadlines, sharing the whiplash of a research life in December.  Join us for candid takes on the FDA's rumored pivot to fewer, tougher trials—will it shake up the industry, save time, or just add confusion? We unpack what "site irregularities" really mean (and how...

Join Denali and Brad for another episode of the Note to File podcast—where clinical research meets candid conversation, friendly banter, and the occasional deep-dive into paper towel dispensers. In this episode, we welcome the always-insightful Susannah Fox, self-described "internet geologist" and champion of patient-led innovation in healthcare. Tune in as we swap stories of networking mishaps, p...

Welcome to another "Sticky Notes" live session of Note to File – the only clinical research podcast that's part insightful conversation, part general nonsense. Today, we're braving the December chill, celebrating a totally wild (and possibly confusing) 50k YouTube subscribers, and pondering whether people forget how to drive in snow every single year (spoiler: they do). We dig into the latest so-c...

This week, we dive headfirst into the holiday madness: the fine art of pretending things can wait till January, how stuffing a week's worth of chaos into three days is our new normal, and why Thanksgiving is synonymous with "eating a regrettable amount of food" (parades optional). But don't worry, we're not just here for turkey talk. We rip into site centricity (is it more than branding?), the nev...

In this episode, we discuss the Abbott-Exact Sciences mega-acquisition, the nuanced world of CROs, challenges and opportunities in decentralized clinical trials (DCT), the explosive growth of clinical trial technology, and the real-world impact of NIH grant funding cuts. We also debate the ethics of drug availability in international trials and dig into site-centricity, innovation, and the ever-ch...

In this episode: does AI really want your job, or is it just here for the snacks? Why does "communication" mean "good luck finding my phone number," and can the job market get any weirder (spoiler: yes)? Brad and Denali banter about the latest "new normal," classic tech headaches, and why public awareness still needs new batteries. You'll get poetry, wild tangents, a little outrage, and a lot of t...

In this episode, Denali and Brad are joined by the ever-chill Steve Wimmer of 1nHealth for a wide-ranging, caffeine-fueled chat about everything from AI-powered patient recruitment to why running clinical trials sometimes feels like herding digital cats. We take you behind the scenes of recruitment campaigns, hash out whether AI is the solution or just a new sticker for your PowerPoint, and dig in...

In this episode, Denali and Brad sit down with Del Smith, founder of Acclinate, to explore the challenges and opportunities in increasing representation in clinical research. They discuss the intersection of technology and trust, the importance of community-first approaches, the role of sites and sponsors, and offer actionable tips for sites of all sizes. Del shares his personal journey from busin...