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Workshop—Vital Signs: Evaluating the Health of Your Clinical Research Program
Apr
24
8:00 AM08:00

Workshop—Vital Signs: Evaluating the Health of Your Clinical Research Program

Workshops are NOT included with Full Conference registration and require a separate fee.

This session provides a framework to assess the overall "health" of your clinical research program in terms of its most critical areas. By delving into key areas in compliance, business, financial, regulatory, and clinical dimensions, the session will help attendees identify gaps and inefficiencies in their programs. Participants will complete a scorecard covering essential topics, leading to an overall health score and follow-up action plans.

Objectives:

  1. Explore critical, key aspects of compliance, business, financial, regulatory, and clinical dimensions that contribute to the “health” of a clinical research program

  2. Identify potential gaps, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement within your clinical research program.

  3. Identify best practices to improve performance, compliance and regulatory adherence.

  4. Commence formulating a plan to start addressing identified gaps and inefficiencies, to enhance the overall performance and integrity of your research program.

CEU: 4.00 ACRP

Trainers:

Related Blog Content:

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Workshop—Project Management Basics for Clinical Research
Apr
24
8:00 AM08:00

Workshop—Project Management Basics for Clinical Research

Workshops are NOT included with Full Conference registration and require a separate fee.

Are you ready to thrive in your position instead of merely trying to survive while putting out fires? If so, there’s no time like the present to add or update the modern project management skills you will need in your arsenal when facing challenging projects to come.

Whether you currently manage projects, would like to in the future, or just want to be more effective in your position, there are skills you can develop and refine to boost your success. 

This workshop is for clinical research professionals who want to develop their leadership, communication, and management skills to help them successfully manage projects and lead teams.

This workshop will focus on the following topics: 

  • Traits and competencies of a good Project Manager - Do you possess them? (Are you a MacGyver?) 

  • Communication Skills - Speak, write, listen, understand, deliver 

  • Conflict, Negotiation, and Influence - Finding common ground and being open to alternatives 

  • Time Management, Planning, and Scheduling - Do you RASCI? 

  • Project Budgets and Cost Management - Who needs to know the dollars and sense of the project? 

  • Collaboration and team building, even with a remote or hybrid team - Building relationship within and outside the team (and over the internet) 

  • Leadership and taking the lead - Do you have to be at the front of the line to be a leader? 

  • Work life balance - Finding the balance in YOUR life 

Tools, assessments, and other resources will be discussed and provided so attendees can build on the information shared during the workshop and continue to develop their project management and leadership skills after the workshop. 

CEU: 8.00 ACRP

Trainers:

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Workshop—Clinical Trial Budgeting Basics: Tips and Tricks for Success
Apr
24
1:00 PM13:00

Workshop—Clinical Trial Budgeting Basics: Tips and Tricks for Success

Workshops are NOT included with Full Conference registration and require a separate fee.

Do you feel on top of all the sources of costs at your site, or are you surprised over and over by unexpected instances of expense? This pre-conference workshop is a great opportunity to learn the basics of clinical trial budgeting and the tips and tricks to ensure your clinical research site is accounting for the true costs to run each clinical trial you conduct. This workshop is intended for those new to budgeting and those experienced who want to ensure they are prepared for handling both the obvious and hidden wellsprings of revenue and deserts of debt throughout their studies. 

Objectives:

  • Discuss the importance of the clinical trial budget for site sustainability and success.

  • Identify critical costs to incorporate into your clinical trial budget.

  • Review the importance for justification documents.

CEU: 4.00 ACRP

Trainer:

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Workshop—Bourbon Street to Better Trials: Empowering a Quality Culture for Success
Apr
24
1:00 PM13:00

Workshop—Bourbon Street to Better Trials: Empowering a Quality Culture for Success

Workshops are NOT included with Full Conference registration and require a separate fee.

In today’s fast-evolving clinical trial landscape, empowering a culture of quality is the key to driving success and ensuring compliance with evolving global standards, including those described in ICH E6(R3). This interactive half-day workshop will focus on practical strategies and tactics for creating, influencing, and sustaining a high-performing culture of quality. Participants will explore key elements like proactive risk management, leadership engagement, and continuous improvement through interactive activities, real-world examples, and collaborative exercises, you will learn how to foster a mindset of quality (beyond compliance) that leads to better trials and improved outcomes, all while aligning with the latest regulatory expectations. Whether you’re shaping a new quality culture or strengthening an existing one, this workshop will equip you with the tools to make quality the cornerstone of your clinical research operations. 

Objectives:

  • Understand the Foundations of a Quality Culture: Define what a high-performing culture of quality looks like in clinical trials. 

  • Recognize the Signs of a Failing Quality Culture: Identify the common signs of a struggling or failing culture of quality and understand how this impacts trial success. 

  • Learn How to Shape and Influence a Culture of Quality: Discover strategies to influence, turn around, and sustain a culture of quality at both investigator sites and sponsor organizations. 

  • Measure and Monitor Quality Culture: Learn how to effectively measure and monitor an organization's culture of quality using qualitative and quantitative tools. 

  • Collaborate to Develop a Quality Action Plan: Work with peers to create actionable plans for improving or sustaining a culture of quality in your own organization. 

CEU: 4.00 ACRP

Trainer:

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Principles to Practice: An Understanding of the ICH E6(R3) Update’s Effect on Good Clinical Practice
Apr
25
9:00 AM09:00

Principles to Practice: An Understanding of the ICH E6(R3) Update’s Effect on Good Clinical Practice

Signature Series Session

ICH E6 changes are upon us. Are you ready to implement new expectations for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and a flexible framework for clinical trial design and conduct? Please join us for a panel discussion on the principles described within ICH E6(R3), the changes from ICH E6(R2), the implications for GCP, considerations for implementation, and insights on how we as an industry can think through flexible design in a quality-minded environment. This is a session you will not want to miss. 

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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The Limits of "De-identification" in Clinical Research Data
Apr
25
10:15 AM10:15

The Limits of "De-identification" in Clinical Research Data

The assurance of study subjects' privacy and confidentiality is fundamental to the enrollment of participants in clinical research. At the same time, the number of datapoints collected and commodified by the commercial world on each individual has increased exponentially. The potential overlap or convergence of these datastreams, whether intentional or inadvertent, threatens the promise of privacy. This session will explore the range and means of data collected in the pursuit of human research and the limits of protections possible in today's digital world.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Should Your Patient Recruitment Engine be Gas, Electric, or Hybrid?
Apr
25
10:15 AM10:15

Should Your Patient Recruitment Engine be Gas, Electric, or Hybrid?

Your patient recruitment engine is the machine that fuels your site's success. Regardless of your wins or losses, every site wants to improve and add efficiency to its recruiting process. Chances are, a lot of what you're already doing is right, but there seems to be something new every day that clinicians can't resist seeking--the next "silver bullet" for marketing and recruiting. It's easy to feel you're behind in the space. It's easy to think you're over- or under-invested. It's easy to ponder that others are finding patients you're not. This session is designed to ease those fears. Find out about the things you think you might be missing. We'll discuss the media options sites are using, spend some time on the new things you keep hearing about, and give you the tactics to evaluate your recruiting operation. Then you can decide where best to allocate resources and grow.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Mark Metzner, Senior Manager, Patient Recruiting & Feasibility, CTI Clinical Trial Services, Inc.

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Achieving Compassion and Compliance in the Conduct of Clinical Research
Apr
25
10:15 AM10:15

Achieving Compassion and Compliance in the Conduct of Clinical Research

This session will help attendees learn how project management techniques can streamline the clinical study start-up process. Discover essential skills like time management, risk assessment, and effective communication, and explore practical tools for strengthening them. Through interactive activities, attendees will be able to develop a robust project plan, manage resources efficiently, and mitigate risks. Attendees will also be able to enhance their ability to handle complexities and minimize delays, ensuring timely study initiation. This session is ideal for clinical research professionals aiming to improve start-up efficiency, as it will offer practical takeaways, including templates and checklists, to apply immediately to their work.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Megan Lamberti, Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Nilo Medical Consulting Group

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Addressing Health Inequities in Clinical Research
Apr
25
10:15 AM10:15

Addressing Health Inequities in Clinical Research

Advancements in precision oncology have led to the development of life-changing, novel treatment modalities in the clinical trial setting. However, significant disparities persist in who benefits from these treatments. Public health has established core principles to ensure equitable access to care for all. How can the clinical trial landscape benefit by applying these public health principles to ensure equitable access to clinical trials? This session will explore the role of social determinants of health and provide a foundational framework for integrating community-based participatory research (CBPR) into current research projects. Participants will learn strategies to improve patient engagement and outcomes through CBPR. Attendees will leave with practical examples and methods to measure the success of their health equity initiatives in clinical research.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Challenges and Solutions for Getting Physicians Involved in Clinical Trials
Apr
25
10:15 AM10:15

Challenges and Solutions for Getting Physicians Involved in Clinical Trials

We are experiencing serious shortfalls in the number of clinical research physicians (principal investigators) needed to keep the enterprise healthy, in part due to aging populations and to the aftereffects of restrictions and burnout from pandemic conditions. It is estimated that less than 5% of U.S. physicians are participating in clinical research at any given time. Is there a sustainable path to attracting and retaining new and returning physicians for conducting clinical studies? With approximately 70,000 clinical studies ongoing or planned, and 35% being U.S.-only, the challenge is to create a collective approach addressing the gap ahead. Sponsors, contract research organizations, site networks, and medical associations realized during the worst days of COVID-19 that collective minds create solutions. Engaging/involving more "research naïve" physicians is a key to success for stakeholders everywhere. Understanding what these physicians need is important. This panel will include physicians who are new to the principal investigator role. Why did they add clinical research to their patient-care services? What have they learned? Why have they continued in clinical research? Are their communities showing greater interest? What are their enrolled patients sharing with them about their experiences as participants?

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Small Talk—Patient Recruitment
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

Small Talk—Patient Recruitment

Drop-in for this quick 30-minute "small talk" offering insightful and practical tips from your ACRP peers.

This will be a casual setting where you can learn from—and connect with—your colleagues.

This session does NOT offer ACRP Contact Hours.

Additional Small Talk Sessions:

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Incorporating Continuous Quality Improvement in the Clinical Research Environment
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

Incorporating Continuous Quality Improvement in the Clinical Research Environment

Professionals in any position and at any level can be empowered to make positive, impactful changes in a clinical research environment. This session will focus on techniques to initiate and sustain targeted improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of research and research-adjacent processes. Strategies include systematic problem solving, process mapping, application of lean philosophies, and engagement of stakeholders. The goal of the session is to make change and improvement accessible to all staff, highlight concrete tools and techniques that can be applied to virtually any scenario, and empower attendees to start or re-ignite their own quality improvement journey.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Eric Rockefeller, Chief of Quality Assurance, Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Health Administration

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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A Regulatory Framework for Testing Artificial Intelligence as a Medical Device
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

A Regulatory Framework for Testing Artificial Intelligence as a Medical Device

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies are transforming healthcare delivery. Understanding the regulatory framework for study AI/ML utility, accuracy, efficacy, and reproducibility is key to the research process prior to its use in patient diagnosis and care. This is a cutting-edge topic upon which many new federal guidance documents have focused. It is often misunderstood by sponsors, sites, and investigators that if AI/ML is used for diagnosis, the technology it is FDA regulated. Operationally, the inclusion or exclusion of AI/ML findings into the electronic health record is poorly understood, although it is analogous to the 21 CFR 812 Investigational Device Exemption or 510 K pathway used for new laboratory testing procedures.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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A Workforce Upskilling Framework for Elevating Organizational Capabilities and Maturity
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

A Workforce Upskilling Framework for Elevating Organizational Capabilities and Maturity

This session aims to introduce a strategic approach to workforce development that is rooted in implementation science to support clinical research quality operations, sustainability, and growth. The methodology will demonstrate the strategic integration of the diverse array of educational resources now widely available in the clinical research sector into a staged approach for impactful workforce upskilling. This spans from individual staff development to organizational governance, extending to inter-organizational learning networks. At its core, the upskilling framework calls for aligning workforce development with organizational goals, ensuring education efforts are not only relevant but strategically positioned for transformative change. This adaptability, synchronized with each organization's unique capabilities and maturity, cultivates a culture of continuous learning, stimulating growth and advancing capabilities. This approach offers a flexible solution for the evolving workforce needs in our diverse clinical research landscape and the dynamic challenges of clinical research programs.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Clinical Research Billing Audits: Preparing Your Site for Compliance
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

Clinical Research Billing Audits: Preparing Your Site for Compliance

Failure to understand and implement a comprehensive research billing compliance program can result in monetary penalties, close scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, and loss of reputation to a research institution. Institutions participating in clinical trials must understand the risks. Additionally, they need the knowledge and skills to accurately perform coverage analysis and manage charges based on that analysis. Finally, institutions need tools for conducting internal audits to ensure all processes are followed correctly. In this master class, participants will learn the “why” of having a comprehensive clinical research billing compliance program and can practice their coverage analysis and auditing skills through hands-on activities.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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ACRP Game Show: Fun Facts with Friends
Apr
25
11:30 AM11:30

ACRP Game Show: Fun Facts with Friends

You can learn about the many facets of clinical research and have fun at the same time in this fast-paced game show format. Watch teams pit their knowledge of clinical research against each other until a winner emerges. Audience members will be encouraged to play along as their colleagues are challenged with questions that vary in complexity and subject. Questions may require teams to recall core principles of ICH Good Clinical Practice, eClinical technology, or the basics of informed consent, as examples. 

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Compassionate Care – You are the Medicine
Apr
25
2:00 PM14:00

Compassionate Care – You are the Medicine

Signature Series Keynote Session

Artist, resilience expert, burn survivor, entrepreneur, and inspirational storyteller, Allison Massari knows first-hand the healing power of compassion. In this inspiring session, hear how you can be the remedy with simple acts of kindness that take seconds. Leave with actionable insights and ways to incorporate compassionate care into your clinical research practice.

Speaker:

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Mastering Study and Site Management: Skills-Based Competency Training for Coordinators
Apr
25
3:15 PM15:15

Mastering Study and Site Management: Skills-Based Competency Training for Coordinators

This session focuses on developing essential skills for effective study and site management. Participants will gain practical knowledge in key areas, including protocol implementation, regulatory compliance, and patient recruitment. The goal is to enhance coordinators' competency through hands-on training and real-world scenarios. Key topics include optimizing site workflows, managing study timelines, and ensuring data integrity. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for improving site performance and study outcomes, making them invaluable assets to their research teams.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Demystifying Institutional Review Board Structures and Processes
Apr
25
3:15 PM15:15

Demystifying Institutional Review Board Structures and Processes

Applying for institutional review board (IRB) review can be a daunting process when you don't understand how these boards function or why their decisions are so important. What application do I use for my study? What's the big deal about consent forms? How long will review take? Why do similar-sounding studies earn different decisions? The IRB review process can seem quite opaque initially; however, most IRBs use similar processes and a lot happens behind the scenes to bring order out of potential chaos. In this session, you will learn the base rules and regulations IRBs follow when reviewing applications, the possible outcomes following review, and the general flow most IRBs use when reviewing applications.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Ensuring Trial Accessibility for Deaf Participants
Apr
25
3:15 PM15:15

Ensuring Trial Accessibility for Deaf Participants

In clinical research, the deaf community continues to be a chronically underserved group. Ensuring accessibility for deaf patients can be a challenge without proper guidance. There are many paths to accessibility, including written communication, computer-assisted real-time transcription, use of interpreters, and providers who know American Sign Language, to name a few. This session will focus on strategies to improve accessibility for deaf patients at study sites. Attendees will learn how to choose the right communication method for their patients, interact with interpreters, and incorporate these expenses into the clinical trial budget. This session will challenge attendees to further their understanding of the deaf community and promote advocacy at their sites.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Is Your Electronic Data Capture Fit for Purpose?
Apr
25
3:15 PM15:15

Is Your Electronic Data Capture Fit for Purpose?

An electronic data capture (EDC) system is software that’s used to electronically collect, manage, store, and export data for the clinical investigations which are critical to support safety and effectiveness claims for drugs, devices, and diagnostic tests. Most EDC systems can be customized to ensure data collection matches the product performance criteria, population characteristics, and statistical analysis plan for a product regulatory submission. This session will describe best practices and pitfalls to avoid when ensuring an EDC system is fit for each unique clinical investigation purpose. Let’s talk about the dos and don'ts and the collaborative sponsor/site/contract research organization approach to EDC validation to make sure we have a clean dataset with the most automated efficiencies and data mapping to scientific endpoints to achieve EDC that's fit for purpose every time.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Small Talk—Budgeting Tips for the Future
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Small Talk—Budgeting Tips for the Future

Drop-in for this quick 30-minute "small talk" offering insightful and practical tips from your ACRP peers. Clinical research sites will share their budgeting tips, including two new budget line items they've recently added and the line items they struggle to get approved by the Sponsor/CRO.

This will be a casual setting where you can learn from—and connect with—your colleagues.

This session does NOT offer ACRP Contact Hours.

Additional Small Talk Sessions:

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Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Information for Clinical Research
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Information for Clinical Research

This presentation will consider the regulatory, operational, and ethical facets of collecting genetic information for clinical research. Topics covered will include regulations surrounding genetic testing and return of results; optimizing protocol design to facilitate specific genetic testing while reducing unnecessary collection; and considerations for biobanking, de-identification, and future research. Participants will leave this session with a robust view of research regulations, innovative ideas to incorporate into protocol design, and a deeper appreciation for patient privacy concerns.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Trading Places: Clinical Research Professionals as Study Participants
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Trading Places: Clinical Research Professionals as Study Participants

Clinical research professionals are used to calling the shots, running the protocols, and making sure everything operates smoothly during trials. But have you ever wondered what it's like to be on the other side of the clipboard? This session turn the tables so that attendees can hear from seasoned professionals who have stepped into clinical research participant role. Join us for a lively discussion as our panelists share their experiences and insights, revealing how being a participant has shaped their approach to research.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Cautionary Tales from the Front Lines of Clinical Trials
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Cautionary Tales from the Front Lines of Clinical Trials

Numerous clinical trial failures are traced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration back to inadequate oversight by principal investigators (PIs). This session delves into real-world examples of such failures, highlighting  the threats posed to participant safety and trial integrity. We will explore key focus areas, including the qualifications of delegated individuals, adequacy of training, requirements for continuous supervision, and provisions for third-party oversight. Attendees will learn how to avoid common pitfalls and enhance PIs' knowledge to ensure trial success. Additionally, we will discuss the practical application of risk-based quality management, the ongoing debate on the necessity of monitoring, and the impact of training deficits. This session is essential for clinical research professionals aiming to support PIs and uphold the integrity of clinical trials.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Project Management Skills for Accelerating Study Start-Up
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Project Management Skills for Accelerating Study Start-Up

This session will help attendees learn how project management techniques can streamline the clinical study start-up process. Discover essential skills like time management, risk assessment, and effective communication, and explore practical tools for strengthening them. Through interactive activities, attendees will be able to develop a robust project plan, manage resources efficiently, and mitigate risks. Attendees will also be able to enhance their ability to handle complexities and minimize delays, ensuring timely study initiation. This session is ideal for clinical research professionals aiming to improve start-up efficiency, as it will offer practical takeaways, including templates and checklists, to apply immediately to their work.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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From Tokenism to Trust: Effective Patient Recruitment Through Authentic Representation
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

From Tokenism to Trust: Effective Patient Recruitment Through Authentic Representation

Effective patient recruitment and retention are vital for clinical trials and healthcare initiatives. Traditional methods often fail due to a lack of genuine representation and authenticity, leading to underrepresentation of minority groups and skewed research outcomes. To address this, recruitment strategies must prioritize authentic representation by understanding and respecting the cultural, social, and linguistic nuances of different communities. This includes collaborating with community leaders, using culturally sensitive communication, and employing diverse media channels that resonate with target populations. Authentic representation builds trust and fosters inclusion, encouraging participation and maintaining engagement throughout the study. It ensures research findings are more generalizable and reflective of the broader population. Prioritizing genuine representation enhances study validity, improves health outcomes, and promotes equity in medical research. Moving beyond the status quo and adopting inclusive, representative strategies is both a matter of fairness and a scientific necessity for advancing healthcare.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Mastering Change Management: Boost Your Career and Transform Clinical Research
Apr
25
4:30 PM16:30

Mastering Change Management: Boost Your Career and Transform Clinical Research

Our industry struggles with inefficiencies in conducting clinical trials effectively and on time. While issues like poor communication between sponsors, contract research organizations, and sites, and even excessive reliance on technology, are often highlighted, the core issue lies in human behavior. The natural reluctance of individuals to embrace change (whether driven by fear or disinterest), coupled with leaders' inability to communicate and sustain changes effectively, hampers progress. This session will delve into how clinical research professionals across all roles can enhance their careers and drive industry-wide improvements by mastering change management and fostering acceptance. By learning to navigate and implement change effectively, professionals can significantly contribute to their organizations and the broader clinical research field.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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FEAR: Face Everything and Rise (in Clinical Research)
Apr
26
9:00 AM09:00

FEAR: Face Everything and Rise (in Clinical Research)

Signature Series Session

Join Dr. David Burrow from FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research as he explores operational strategies for implementing Quality by Design and the integration of Risk Based Quality Management Systems into routine trial design and conduct. Dr. Burrow will build on the key themes discussed in his 2024 Signature Series presentation titled, “Reimagining Clinical Research: The Transformation of Trial Design & Conduct” and bring his own unique perspectives to the next stage of reimagining clinical research and removing barriers to innovation. Take away practical approaches to mitigating obstacles, advancing the shared interests of human subject protection, generating high quality evidence of safety and effectiveness, and enabling action through strategies to manage fear - both as an organization and as an individual. 

Objectives: 

  1. Discuss key themes of Quality by Design, Critical to Quality factors, and Risk Based Quality Management Systems. 

  2. Advance shared understanding of the CDER Center for Clinical Trial Innovation (C3TI) and other FDA drug development programs.  

  3. Provide strategies to advance innovation and enhance quality while also minimizing fear of regulatory oversight. 

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • David Burrow, PharmD, JD, Director, Office of Scientific Investigations, Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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Keeping Up with the FDA's Changing Ways
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

Keeping Up with the FDA's Changing Ways

The landscape of clinical trial design, conduct, and regulation continues to shift thanks to the rapid infusion of technology and an increased emphasis on inclusion and access. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Congress are reevaluating their stances in a number of areas in order to further speed the path to healthcare innovation. However, these changes in policy can present operational challenges for sites and sponsors in the day-to-day management of trials and patient care. This session will run through the latest guidance changes and what they mean for sites and sponsors in 2025. Areas of focus will be the updated guidance on informed consent, diversity action plans, digital health technologies, decentralized clinical trials and Form FDA 1572 reform, use of real-world evidence, and changes to the FDA's Bioresearch Monitoring Program inspection processes. Additionally, the speakers will address the final ruling on taxing patient stipends, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022's mandate for innovation.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Assessing and Sustaining Your Community Engagement Plans and Partnerships
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

Assessing and Sustaining Your Community Engagement Plans and Partnerships

Community outreach remains the industry standard for patient recruitment in minoritized (and majority) communities. Defined as one-way communication, community outreach is often a transactional process that doesn’t typically leave room for bridging the gap between opportunity and community. While outreach may be necessary in some cases, we must begin to make a conscious shift toward engagement through true community partnerships for more equitable access and outcomes. This session is for those hoping to dive deep into community engagement planning and implementation for their organization. Attendees will come away with a new understanding of the pivotal role our communities play in shaping a more equitable and inclusive clinical trial landscape, and tools for deploying impactful and sustainable community engagement plans.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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A Statistics-Driven Approach to Case Report Form Design
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

A Statistics-Driven Approach to Case Report Form Design

It seems as if everyone has their own way of designing case report forms (CRFs), which for study coordinators can mean encountering new expectations (good, bad, or indifferent) from study to study as well as the same things (truly necessary or not) across many studies. But each time, there's a bit of copying and pasting happening, in hope that lessons learned from prior studies will guide the development of future CRF content. But what if you could have a fail-proof process to ensure that the first draft of a CRF had 95% of the critical variables needed? Find out how using a statistics-driven approach to reverse engineer report tables can simplify CRF design. Cut out the noise by removing onerous and non-applicable checklist variables and focusing on only adding analyzable fields that make every single variable practical. During this talk, a research coordinator-turned-clinical research associate will also provide insight into how they contribute to the review process to ensure flow at the site is taken into consideration.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Innovation in Investigational Product Management
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

Innovation in Investigational Product Management

The future is here, and new technology available for investigational product (IP) management opens up a wide range of opportunities. In this session, we will provide an introduction to new IP temperature monitoring capabilities, cold chain innovation, digital automation, predictive analytics, and sustainable technologies that have the potential to enable enhanced quality and improve efficiency. We will also look at how new technologies at both the site and sponsor levels may support patient access to clinical trials and improve compliance with the tenets of ICH Good Clinical Practice.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Novel Clinical Research Recruitment Models Developed in Partnership with Sites
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

Novel Clinical Research Recruitment Models Developed in Partnership with Sites

Site-centric recruitment models powered by data and innovation are proving to be successful when two criteria are met--they reduce the burden on the site and they reach the patient closer to home. From "just-in-time" practices to decentralized clinical trials, this session will explore different recruitment models from the perspectives of experts who have successfully managed these approaches--both from the site and sponsor sides. Attendees will walk away with details and examples that they can apply to their efforts in clinical trial recruitment.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Beyond the Protocol: Decision-Making and Critical Thinking in Clinical Research
Apr
26
10:15 AM10:15

Beyond the Protocol: Decision-Making and Critical Thinking in Clinical Research

In this session, we will examine barriers impeding effective decision-making and critical thinking in clinical research, including cognitive biases and information overload, and provide tips and scientifically based tools to help study team members navigate difficult decisions. Criteria for fostering a positive decision-making environment, emphasizing transparency and open communication, will also be examined. Attendees will engage in a thorough analysis of the deductive and inductive reasoning processes inherent to clinical research decision-making. By session's end, participants will emerge armed with empirically grounded strategies to navigate complexity, cultivate critical thinking, and drive impactful outcomes in their clinical research endeavors.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Ashley Bader, Clinical Research Nurse Manager, Tampa General Hospital

  • Jennifer Spitzer, Senior Clinical Research Associate, University of South Florida

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Principal Investigator Qualifications: Are Micro-Credentials Enough?
Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

Principal Investigator Qualifications: Are Micro-Credentials Enough?

In a post-pandemic landscape, learning, conducting, and implementing clinical trials significantly changed with the adoption of globally accepted decentralized methods. Variability across educational offerings may not assess learner competency to perform clinical research operational activities. In this panel, clinical investigators, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration representative, and educators will explore varied modalities for training investigators and consider avenues for comprehension in terms of learning on the job, through structured courses, by attending sponsor/contract research organization-conducted trainings, or by completing online modules--none of which may be sufficient in isolation. Fundamentals of online teaching and learning, coupled with adult learning methods and the industry's continued reliance on a "decentralized method of training," are pivotal to assess learner capability. In the absence of documented analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of micro-credentials, presenters will discuss strengths/weaknesses, gaps, and challenges of the biopharmaceutical industry's reliance on the current modes of training and education of clinical research professionals.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Starting from Scratch to Establish an Investigator-Initiated Research Program
Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

Starting from Scratch to Establish an Investigator-Initiated Research Program

Translational research is often driven by independent physician-investigators who want to bring medical innovations to the bedside. These pioneers take on the design, implementation, and compliance needs of their clinical trials, often without any formal training on research methodology. Similarly, lack of formal regulatory training creates challenges for busy investigators balancing their clinical and research responsibilities, and can put institutions at an increased risk of non-compliance, loss of reputation, and liability. Establishing an investigator-initiated research program (IIRP) can address the knowledge gap, foster translational research, and provide a support model that improves the quality of research, enhances reproducibility of results, and ensures compliance while protecting the rights of and maximizing the potential benefits for research participants. The session will focus on the importance of an IIRP regardless of research portfolio size, will deliver scalable steps for success. The example of a bottom-up approach will provide a framework for discussion and opportunity to share lessons learned.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Pamela Cooper, Manager, Investigator Initiated Research Program, Hackensack Meridian Health Inc

  • Elli Gourna Paleoudis, PhD, Director, Investigator Initiated Research Program and Support Services, Hackensack Meridian Health

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A Site Management Organization Approach to Study Start-Up
Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

A Site Management Organization Approach to Study Start-Up

Understanding that site management organizations (SMOs) are essentially the bridge between the sponsor/contract research organization (CRO) and sites, we will demonstrate proven quality improvement practices used by SMOs to reduce start-up timelines. Roles discussed involve study activation, regulatory compliance, contracting and budgeting, clinical education, and clinical trial management system oversight. Participants will understand the function of each role and how the delineation of responsibilities improves site compliance, data quality, and sponsor/CRO satisfaction with a site's clinical trials. We will explore best practices using specific examples from real-world experiences, including technology use and templates covering communication, trial management, study and site specifics, etc.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Charita Braker, Manager, Clinical Research Education, HCA Healthcare Research Institute

  • Jessi Klindedinst, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, HCA Healthcare Research Institute

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Data-Driven Protocol Feasibility to Improve Research Productivity
Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

Data-Driven Protocol Feasibility to Improve Research Productivity

An estimated 20% to 50% of trial protocols launched at sites will eventually close without a single enrolled participant, wasting considerable resources along the way. While not mandated, feasibility reviews are being utilized by many organizations to minimize the risk of opening studies that ultimately will fail. Stage-gate process, a framework described in industrial organization management, can help identify projects early that are likely not to succeed and stop them before extensive resources are invested, freeing those resources to support other projects more likely to succeed. The feasibility process should include review of a diverse array of resources--financial, human, and physical--as well as the ability to accrue needed participants. This presentation will discuss the stage-gate framework, provide tips on processes that can be used to implement a feasibility process, and offer metrics and data organizations can use to drive the analysis empirically.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Inclusive Strategies for Boosting Participation in Clinical Studies
Apr
26
11:30 AM11:30

Inclusive Strategies for Boosting Participation in Clinical Studies

Recent discussions around diversity and inclusion have highlighted the limited participation of Americans in clinical research, with only 10 to 20 million out of 320 million involved. Many solutions, like decentralized clinical trials, focus on making participation easier for those already involved rather than reaching new participants. In my presentation, I will showcase initiatives and technologies aimed at recruiting those not yet participating in clinical studies, stressing that inspiration and education are key to growing the pool of engaged populations.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • James Morton, Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Actionable Insights for Transforming the Clinical Research Enterprise
Apr
26
2:00 PM14:00

Actionable Insights for Transforming the Clinical Research Enterprise

Signature Series Session

Meaningful change can come from the top down and the ground up—but in clinical research, valuable perspectives from seasoned professionals in the field have been silent for too long. This session builds on an NIH survey that was first examined at ACRP 2024 and then expanded upon in a pioneering national survey by ACRP and Continuum Clinical (launching in late November) with the goal of understanding how to improve clinical trials from those who implement and manage trials.

Through the lens of transformation, this survey goes beyond the barriers that are typically captured to explore real-world actionable insights for clinical trial implementation, our current state, where do we want to go from here, and the changes needed to reach an ideal future state.

Come hear wisdom gathered from clinical research professionals just like yourself--and share your voice in this lively discussion! Our speakers will share the survey insights and propose practical, solutions-based approaches to overcome the reported barriers. All ACRP 2025 registrants will receive exclusive access to a pre-read document before the conference to help set the stage for the discussion in New Orleans.

Join us for this engaging session to discover actionable solutions to the issues that hinder successful clinical trials. Your colleagues (and hopefully, you!) have spoken, so don't miss out!

As the leading advocate for clinical research professionals, this effort builds upon ACRP’s mission to promote excellence in clinical research and highlight our members' contributions to the clinical research and drug development sectors. To learn more about the survey and ensure you participate, please contact ACRP.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Women Leaders Breaking Barriers and Achieving Success in Clinical Research
Apr
26
3:15 PM15:15

Women Leaders Breaking Barriers and Achieving Success in Clinical Research

In this session, we will dive into the history of women leadership and discuss barriers women face in clinical research leadership positions. What is the leadership landscape in clinical research and how can you be an effective leader in it? Let’s create a Blank Space and level the playing field by breaking those barriers. How will we do this? By embracing a journey of change, being fearless, and mastering the strategies necessary for overcoming barriers as a female leader and achieving success.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Blog Content:

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Do Adaptive Designs and Protocol Modifications Mean Entirely New Trials?
Apr
26
3:15 PM15:15

Do Adaptive Designs and Protocol Modifications Mean Entirely New Trials?

The session will focus on various types of protocol designs and changes, with an emphasis on adaptive designs. We will review the FDA guidance on “Adaptive Designs for Clinical Trials of Drugs and Biologics.” Taking a deeper dive into unplanned design changes and regulatory considerations, we will engage in one of the oldest thought experiments in Western philosophy, the Ship of Theseus, to address an ambiguity in clinical trial design. Here, we will consider alternative ways protocols are commonly modified, and whether those changes could be considered an entirely new clinical trial, rather than a modification. This session will also provide an educational background in trial design for professionals who haven't had as much exposure to the topic as they wish, and will include a detailed review of sections of ICH E8(R1) and ICH E6(R2), where they relate to trial design.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Amanda Egan, Associate Clinical Research Associate, Merck

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Clinical Trial Diversity & Intersectionality: Looking at the Whole Patient
Apr
26
3:15 PM15:15

Clinical Trial Diversity & Intersectionality: Looking at the Whole Patient

In this session, an expert panel  with members representing a top 10 industry sponsor; a research and policy center; an independent nonprofit organization; and a pharmaceutical business intelligence provider  will share actionable insights on expanding the scope of diversity in clinical trials. The panelists will elaborate on the section of the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) diversity plan guidance stating that "FDA advises sponsors to seek diversity in clinical trial enrollment beyond populations defined by race and ethnicity, including other underrepresented populations defined by demographics.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Patient Engagement in an Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
Apr
26
3:15 PM15:15

Patient Engagement in an Era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

The overall focus of this session will be to pose important considerations relevant to the ethics of patient data-sharing and privacy in a rapidly advancing, data-driven research environment. We will seek to raise pertinent questions related to consent, transparency, and the responsible use of patient information via realistic patient case scenarios and audience participation. Scenarios will involve technology utilizing artificial intelligence methodology, data-sharing requests from sponsors, and the tactics involved in operationalizing compliant patient-centered research in an age of Big Data.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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FDA's Latest Guidance on Informed Consent: Reading Between the Lines
Apr
26
3:15 PM15:15

FDA's Latest Guidance on Informed Consent: Reading Between the Lines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA’s) recent guidance for institutional review boards on informed consent was the first update to the old “information sheets” on the topic in nearly 20 years. The Office for Human Research Protections beat FDA to the punch with new consent form requirements, but does the latest guidance mean there is a new “reasonable person” in the room? In this session, we will break down the new FDA guidance and what it means for accredited Human Research Protection Programs. Some organizations may not need to make any extensive changes, but there are differences between the FDA guidance and the expectations of the Common Rule concerning informed consent that must be considered.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Inspection Readiness: It's All About the Data
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

Inspection Readiness: It's All About the Data

Leveraging electronic tools is essential for maintaining inspection readiness in today's regulatory landscape. Paper-based methods are cumbersome and time-consuming, and they create logistical challenges in record keeping. In contrast, technology offers centralized record keeping, and electronic file storage is now both cost-effective and user-friendly. This shift is underscored by updated guidelines such as ICH E6(R3), which promotes media neutrality, flexibility, innovation, proactive quality, and robust data governance. Additionally, remote regulatory assessments, which were proven effective during the pandemic, enhance efficiency, flexibility, and global reach while reducing travel and disruption. Despite these advancements, recent feedback from regulators indicates a regression in the adoption of these technological tools. It is time for sponsors to embrace risk proportionality, which is supported by regulatory authorities, to maintain inspection readiness.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Investigator Compensation: One Size Does Not Fit All
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

Investigator Compensation: One Size Does Not Fit All

Payment for services in the healthcare industry is handled unlike the payment process for any other business. Learn the different models by which investigators can be compensated; the basics of the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and the Stark Law; how they govern investigator payment; and the average per-patient investigator compensation by trial type. The speaker will share one hospital’s experience with successfully compensating physicians based on the various types of medical groups and hospital physicians they contract with. In this session, attendees can be prepared to learn about managing investigator payments; creating compensation that is fair, motivational, affordable, practical, legal, and agreeable; and motivating investigators without incentivizing them to perform clinical trials.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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The ABCs of Risk-Based Monitoring for Sites
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

The ABCs of Risk-Based Monitoring for Sites

For more than a decade, multiple sources of regulatory guidance have increased their focus on risk management in clinical studies, paving the way for industry to adopt more risk-based monitoring strategies internationally. With the issuance of ICH E6(R3), an even more focused risk-based approach is expected. While Industry initially struggled to implement risk-based monitoring, moving review into central/remote scenarios as opposed to traditional onsite monitoring, we can now apply lessons learned to various indications and phases of research. We’ve come very far in tailoring systems and approaches to fit the needs of studies while still building in quality by design. Sites are important partners, but have been left out of the conversation about risk-based monitoring. Industry has fallen short in making risk-based monitoring something tangible to sites. Our goal is to bring sites a greater understanding of what sponsors/contract research organizations (CROs) are looking for, how they develop their key risk indicators, and how their ongoing monitoring and mitigation strategies impact their studies.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Sara Croteau, Associate Director, Clinical Operations - Quality Management, Innovaderm

  • Valerie Paolella, Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management, Innovaderm

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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When and Why to Include Diverse Perspectives in Participant-Facing Materials
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

When and Why to Include Diverse Perspectives in Participant-Facing Materials

This session will review the ways in which critical representatives, including patient and caregiver advocates, from across the research landscape can be meaningfully engaged by sponsors and sites to co-develop effective, patient-facing processes or resources. Through the lens of an ongoing community-engaged project, steps and strategies to recruit, engage with, and retain key informants will be presented and discussed. Participants will come away with an appreciation of the opportunities that sustained relationship-building affords a project, as well as tips and techniques for including patients and community members from initiation through dissemination, and beyond. Topics to be covered include health literacy concepts, clear communication strategies, and workgroup facilitation techniques.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Small Talk—Crafting Your Clinical Trial Diversity Plans
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

Small Talk—Crafting Your Clinical Trial Diversity Plans

Drop-in for this quick 30-minute "small talk" offering insightful and practical tips from your ACRP peers. Sponsors and CROs will share the guides and templates they are using to develop their Clinical Trial Diversity Plans. Attendees will also walk away with practical tips on how to get started.

This will be a casual setting where you can learn from—and connect with—your colleagues.

This session does NOT offer ACRP Contact Hours.

Additional Small Talk Sessions:

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Sustaining Studies and Keeping the Team Afloat in Rough Waters
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

Sustaining Studies and Keeping the Team Afloat in Rough Waters

One of the predominate challenges we face in our field is not having enough "hands on deck" to tackle all the work in front of us. This principal issue is accompanied by a litany of subsequent challenges that impact managers, coordinators, sponsors, stakeholders, and most importantly, study patients. We will discuss how to keep a team of research professionals seaworthy across entire studies by diminishing the strain on its members through provision of "floating coordinators" giving temporary coverage for projects and departments on an as-needed basis. We will break the ice on this topic, which we believe will become increasingly relevant, and we'll share our top tips for instituting and managing such programs wherever they are needed in the research enterprise.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Michelle Bright, MA, CCRP, Director of Clinical Research Operations, Center for Clinical Research Management, Ohio State University College of Medicine

  • Diana Burke, MA, CCRC, Lead Clinical Research Coordinator, Center for Clinical Research Management, Ohio State University College of Medicine

  • Patrick Rowan, MS, CCRP, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Center for Clinical Research Management, Ohio State University College of Medicine

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Training for the Informed Consent Process: Going from Good to Great
Apr
26
4:30 PM16:30

Training for the Informed Consent Process: Going from Good to Great

Join us for an engaging, fun-filled session where staff from a large healthcare and research organization will share practical strategies for creating a workshop course series that elevates informed consent training from adequate to superior heights. Identify tactics to address gaps in your informed consent education and to navigate unique informed consent scenarios. Learn how to utilize gameplay applications and simulation activities, and how to share the knowledge of experienced clinical research staff to improve the practices of your novice clinical research workforce. Discover how to enhance your clinical research operations through empowerment of your teams to offer research opportunities to diverse clinical trial participant populations in non-ideal conditions--all while keeping your training exciting and interesting.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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AI in Clinical Research
Apr
27
8:00 AM08:00

AI in Clinical Research

Signature Series Session

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on the loose, but don't panic – instead, join us for a panel discussion that offers a scenic tour of the work of AI. We will start the journey with an introduction to the basics of what AI is and how it is being implemented into clinical research. Our panelists will then steer us toward critical talking points regarding the responsible use of AI and how we can navigate this journey together as we move to embrace its many applications in clinical research. ​

Objectives:

  • Describe the components of AI ​

  • Explain the current role of AI in clinical research ​

  • Discuss responsible use of AI ​

  • Discuss how the clinical research industry (including patients) can benefit from AI now and in the future​.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Gatekeeping Practices and the Evolving Clinical Research Coordinator Role
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Gatekeeping Practices and the Evolving Clinical Research Coordinator Role

We will examine the evolution of the clinical research coordinator (CRC) role, focusing on the impacts of traditional job descriptions and requirements assigned to the role. We will also look at how the mindset resulting in a “gatekeeping” approach for hiring impacts potential new CRCs' interest in and recruitment/retention for the role. Comparing the traditional requirements of 2-3+ years experience in the field for CRC roles puts many qualified candidates out of the running when they have transferable skills. This panel will provide a collaborative platform for discussions and dialogue regarding past, present, and future practices, and responsibilities of the next generation of CRCs. A primary focus for this session will be examining the changing research landscape and encouraging reflection on the impacts of recent trends on sites/studies. Through panel members sharing experiences and attendees engaging throughout the session, participants will gain insights into the value of more inclusive hiring practices and strategies to promote diversity in the field.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Micki Le, Director or CRCs and PMs, SiteBridge Research

  • Lauren Stockwell, Content & Engagement Manager, Society for Clinical Research Sites

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Standardizing Single IRB Submissions for Relying Sites
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Standardizing Single IRB Submissions for Relying Sites

When study teams at research sites join a multi-site study as a "relying site" under the watch of a single institutional review board (sIRB) for the overall study, they must go through several steps to prepare their submission to the sIRB for approval of their site. However, different relying sites do not always follow the same process for facilitating sIRB approval. This inconsistency makes it challenging for lead principal investigators and their lead study teams to efficiently coordinate site start-up approvals.  A standardized process would be very helpful, highlighting the need for harmonized workflows across sites. The goal of this session is to present a model site implementation process for relying site study teams to use to direct the process and harmonize it across sites. The model was developed in conjunction with study teams experienced in the sIRB process as lead and relying sites.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Polly Goodman, CIP, Senior Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs Operations, SMART IRB

  • Jeremy Lavigne, MA, CIP, Senior SMART IRB Officer, Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center Harvard Medical School

  • Michael Linke, PhD, Adjunct Professor, University of Cincinnati/Stroke Net

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Your Guide to 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 Compliance
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Your Guide to 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 Compliance

Conducting clinical trials on a global scale presents unique challenges, including navigating dynamic regulatory requirements and diverse landscapes. This session will examine The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's  21 CFR Part 11 from the Code of Federal Regulations and its European Union counterpart, EudraLex Annex 11, to uncover the foundational requirements for utilizing electronic records and electronic signatures in clinical trials conducted within these regions.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Comparing and Contrasting Approaches to In Vitro Diagnostics Research vs. Other Medical Devices
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Comparing and Contrasting Approaches to In Vitro Diagnostics Research vs. Other Medical Devices

Over the next four years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will phase out enforcement discretion for laboratory developed tests. These tests will be regulated as in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical devices subject to FDA risk classification and premarket requirements for clearance/approval. Likely, there will be an increase in IVD pivotal clinical investigations. This session will look at the various IVD study designs as they relate to test users and use environments, and will highlight site considerations for readiness to support these kinds of clinical studies.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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Data Strategies for Health Equity and Inclusion: Key European Trends
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Data Strategies for Health Equity and Inclusion: Key European Trends

Data form the cornerstone of efforts to address health disparities and advance health equity across the globe. In the United States, Medicare and Medicaid collect and publicly disclose race, ethnicity, and socio-economic characteristics to address health disparities and identify underserved communities. In Europe, healthcare systems and policies vary significantly across countries. While some European countries collect similar data as in the U.S., other countries collect and share no or only limited data due to concerns about discrimination, individual privacy, or historical sensitivities. Despite the limitations, there is still a broad range of high-quality data which can be consolidated, standardized, and visualized to support streamlined diversity and site identification strategies. We’ll take a deep dive into the hurdles and complexities of diversity data collection and the efforts needed for standardization of data, explore the potential barriers and factors that explain the gaps in current data strategies, and discuss data-driven approaches for more diverse clinical research.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Elke Ydens, Associate Director of Business Solutions, Anju Software

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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A Data-Driven Approach to Site Selection for Oncology Trials
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

A Data-Driven Approach to Site Selection for Oncology Trials

National strategic policy in England is to expand the diversity of clinical trial participants, bringing research opportunities to communities most in need. Our hospital has worked to commission wide-ranging dataset visualizations, to pinpoint which specific areas of the country have the greatest disease burden, and so may be prime candidates for clinical trial site selection. We have integrated assessment of cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality--in addition to demographic data--to create a data-driven approach to site identification and selection, rather than using more traditional performance metrics or simply prior experience and relationships. We aim for an England where no cancer patient is left behind without access to research, and where our clinical trials recruit rapidly to time and target whilst bringing immediate patient benefit to those most in need.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Mark Brandon-Grove, Head of Clinical Research Performance & Quality, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Managing the Consequences of Audits and FDA Inspections
Apr
27
9:15 AM09:15

Managing the Consequences of Audits and FDA Inspections

This interactive session is intended for experienced professionals who deal with complex clinical trials issues focused on during U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) audits and inspections, need to understand the latest developments, and can contribute their own experiences. Presenters will cover important Good Clinical Practice topics to prepare for audits and regulatory inspections and for addressing any resulting observations. The presentation will be followed with hands-on activities to create corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans, utilizing root cause analysis procedures to address FDA citations in Warning Letters, Notices of Initiation of Disqualification Proceedings and Opportunity to Explain, and Form 483s (Notice of Inspectional Observations). Tools will be provided and participants will work in groups. The session provides an opportunity to collaboratively hone skills in problem solving and root cause analysis, resulting in effective CAPA plans.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Spotlighting the Role of Health Equity in Clinical Trial Design
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

Spotlighting the Role of Health Equity in Clinical Trial Design

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines health equity as “the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health.” The clinical trials industry stands at a precipice, buffeted by community and regulatory calls for diversity action plans and headlines that highlight health disparity statistics. With great opportunity to innovate and streamline clinical trial processes that have historically and currently preclude diverse participation and representation, we are called to answer core questions related to the role of health equity in clinical trial design. Whether observational or experimental, the clinical trials industry must realign its “why” with and through community engagement by being responsive to participation barriers that intersect with multiple levels of challenges posed by social drivers of health and cultural norms.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Detecting and Addressing the Quality Pitfalls at Study Sites
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

Detecting and Addressing the Quality Pitfalls at Study Sites

How can sites decrease the most common non-compliance issues cited in regulatory inspections? The types and frequency of these findings have not changed significantly in the past decade. With increasing complexity in research protocols, quality remains a concern to regulatory authorities. While monitors play a significant role in ensuring site performance and compliance, U.S. Food and Drug Administration notices place the onus on site personnel. In this presentation, we will highlight areas of deficiencies seen over many years at investigator sites. We will also discuss common inspection findings and how to spot the pitfalls that sites need to address in order to ensure compliance in conduct, performance, and overall execution of clinical trials.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Innovative Models to Promote Pathways into the Clinical Research Workforce
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

Innovative Models to Promote Pathways into the Clinical Research Workforce

Clinical research represents a robust profession with many enticing factors: advancement opportunities, diverse skill application, good pay, and the potential to play a significant role in improving healthcare. However, development of a sustainable, diverse, and talented workforce has several known barriers. Among these are limited awareness of clinical research career and training opportunities compounded by a persistent catch-22 requiring prior work experience for entry-level positions. Here we explore a few of the innovative new models that are tackling these critical issues. From clinical research competency training in high schools, equity-focused internships, employer-based apprenticeship programs, and city-site partnerships to support economic development through CRP training and placement, employers and educators are using creativity and collaboration to reduce roadblocks and forge new pathways into the clinical research workforce.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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A Data Privacy Roadmap to Balancing Research, Innovation, and Compliance
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

A Data Privacy Roadmap to Balancing Research, Innovation, and Compliance

Effective data governance is crucial for organizations involved in clinical research for drug and medical device development. However, the implications of evolving European Union (EU) laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR), Medical Device Regulation (MDR), Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Act, and Data Act, bring many new challenges. This session will explore some of the key data privacy compliance challenges for contract research organizations and sponsors, sharing real-world business examples and insights. The implications of the CTR, MDR, AI Act, and other jurisdictional regulations will be explored, focusing on the complexities of processing EU/United Kingdom trial participants’ data. Guidance on when to appoint a data privacy officer and representative will also be provided. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to identify the challenges posed by privacy laws, particularly the EU’s GDPR, and recognize what is required for effective data governance under the CTR and MDR.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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The Clinical Research Technology Reboot: Are We Getting it Right?
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

The Clinical Research Technology Reboot: Are We Getting it Right?

Clinical research is one of many industries being disrupted by rapid technological advancements, and while the number of vendors today is overwhelming, most agree that the overall tech experience remains poor (especially at the site level).  With a need for tech transformation in mind, the audience will be challenged to consider what we can learn from disruptive technology that we’ve experienced as consumers ourselves; how real estate, marketing, eCommerce, and other arenas have evolved with the goal of an improved consumer experience as their driving force; and how  we should be optimizing based on where other industries have found success. This interactive session will challenge all attendees, from novice to expert, to intentionally evolve our own industry based on what others have already learned.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Compensating Research Subjects: The Fine Line Between Fairness and Inducement
Apr
27
10:30 AM10:30

Compensating Research Subjects: The Fine Line Between Fairness and Inducement

This session will focus on helping attendees understand what undue inducement of human research subjects is and how to reconcile this with fair compensation for participating in clinical trials. Guidance documents regarding subject payment will be examined, as will the topics of how undue inducement might occur indirectly, and the delicate ethical balance between compensation as a tool for diversification and exploitation of vulnerable subject populations.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

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From Inspiration to Execution of a Successful Investigator-Initiated Trial Protocol
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

From Inspiration to Execution of a Successful Investigator-Initiated Trial Protocol

The overall focus and goal of the session is to support attendees’ knowledge and skills on the key elements for building a successful investigator-initiated clinical trial protocol, with a specific focus on developing clinical trials in oncology. Participants will gain an understanding of how to effectively move research ideas from the bench to the bedside, beginning with the design of a feasibility assessment and feasibility review. The development of early protocol documents that are used to secure study drugs/devices and funding will be discussed, along with the planning strategies necessary for making the protocol as comprehensive and inclusive as possible (e.g., choosing entry criteria to enhance diversity and inclusiveness will be discussed).

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

  • Kimberly Bullock, PhD, Director, Protocol Development Team and Associate Professor of Research, University of Virginia

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Career Shift: Enriching the Clinical Research Workforce Talent Pool
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

Career Shift: Enriching the Clinical Research Workforce Talent Pool

Over the last two decades, the landscape of clinical research has transformed dramatically with increased staffing needs, largely due to the dynamic nature of the field and escalating regulatory demands. Many clinical research stakeholders have developed workforce programs to address challenges in hiring, recruitment, education, and maintenance of a skilled research team, ultimately enhancing the caliber of clinical research. Opportunities to attract top-tier clinical research personnel are abundant in unconventional environments. Members of this panel will recount the unique paths they traveled along from atypical professions to their current roles in clinical research. Utilizing their adaptable skills, they have successfully transitioned to this sector, contributing their extensive relevant experience. As we tackle the issues of hiring and keeping a dedicated workforce, it is advantageous to consider candidates from non-standard clinical research backgrounds.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Denise Snyder, MS, RD, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Duke University School of Medicine

  • Sherry Huber, Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, Senior, Duke University School of Medicine

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How the New Single IRB Requirements Will Change Clinical Research
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

How the New Single IRB Requirements Will Change Clinical Research

Using lessons learned from the implementation of the National Institutes of Health single institutional review board (IRB) mandate in 2018 and the Common Rule cooperative research provisions enacted in 2020, participants will explore how changes in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations requiring single IRB review, as proposed in 2022, would impact how clinical researchers get IRB approval for their studies. Building on the processes already in place nationally to have IRB review conducted by a single IRB, this session will discuss how the narrower scope of the FDA’s proposed single IRB requirements will necessitate that clinical research teams work more closely with their local IRBs and possibly the FDA prior to proposal submission. Participants will also learn more about the specific decision points required when considering whether the proposed FDA single IRB requirement applies to proposals.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Related Resource:

The new ACRP Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center has the most relevant and up-to-date resources for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. ACRP will post updates and links to content impacted by the changes to the ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Escaping the Grind: Time Management in the Real World
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

Escaping the Grind: Time Management in the Real World

Is the crowded daily work routine at your study site reaching overwhelming proportions? Does it feel as if you have too many things to do and not enough hours in the day? You're not alone. We will discuss how to find support in one another in the workplace when our caseloads can seem overwhelming, share some valuable tools we have used to help us stay organized when we are responsible for multiple studies, and offer some tips and tricks to make onboarding new coordinators a breeze, especially when you feel like you don’t have the time! Teamwork makes the dream work. Join us for a great look at how an academic medical center handles a variety of studies and what we have found helps make us successful.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Best Advertising Practices and Partnerships for Patient Recruitment Success
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

Best Advertising Practices and Partnerships for Patient Recruitment Success

Patient recruitment remains a significant challenge in our industry, often exacerbated by outdated U.S. Food and Drug Adinistration guidelines. Despite these constraints, there are ways to improve recruitment through better advertising practices. This panel brings together perspectives from sponsors/contract research organizations (CROs), institutional review boards (IRBs), and sites to discuss best practices within their organizations and how to form effective, mutually beneficial partnerships. We will focus on how sites and sponsors/CROs can implement winning strategies in patient recruitment advertising that also meet IRB review expectations. Each organization will offer actionable insights aimed at enhancing their processes to improve recruitment outcomes.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Assessing and Managing Study Coordinator Workload
Apr
27
12:45 PM12:45

Assessing and Managing Study Coordinator Workload

This session explores the current state of available clinical research workload tools and compares several similar adaptations of a specific tool for tracking productivity at various types of research programs. The focal model presented offers great flexibility in both oncology and non-oncology settings, as it allows for continuity of care amongst study coordinators for their study participants. The metrics presented can be used to justify new and existing employees for research programs running clinical trials predominately on the high end of the acuity continuum. Further, the metrics can be used to increase funding for additional coordinator and support staffing while improving study coordinator job satisfaction and retention at sites. This allows sites to achieve their enrollment goals and promote progress in their clinical research practice. In the wake of such improvements, research programs can expect more funding opportunities and greater success.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Transforming Stipend and Reimbursement Practices for Trial Participants
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Transforming Stipend and Reimbursement Practices for Trial Participants

Research sites often grapple with the complexities of disbursing participant stipends and reimbursements. These challenges stem from unclear stakeholder roles, diverse payment methods (e.g., reloadable cards, cash, checks), federal tax rules, guardianship issues, and ethical considerations for providing payments for clinical trial participation. To address these hurdles, this session will explore creative approaches in this arena, including diverse methods for handling reimbursements, sponsor budget negotiation tactics, and technology systems for efficient and compliant management. The session will emphasize the importance of adhering to federal regulations while considering institutional organizational structures such as centralized or decentralized management of payments and reimbursements. The session will also give attendees the tools and strategies to determine the best solution for their organization.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Defining the Role of the Clinical Research Associate in Site-Sponsor Relationships
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Defining the Role of the Clinical Research Associate in Site-Sponsor Relationships

In the world of research and development, we often think about new and emerging technologies, cutting-edge ideas, and innovative approaches. What if we could also strengthen the foundations by developing core competencies? The goal of this presentation is to highlight the importance of establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship between sponsors and research sites. This relationship highly relies on the competencies of the clinical research associate (CRA) to create and nurture this connection whatever the situation is (database lock, recurring issues/deviations, late sponsor payments, etc.). The presentation will focus on key strategies for maintaining effective communication and addressing common challenges. By promoting mutual respect and understanding, the CRA can ensure that both sponsors and sites work harmoniously toward common objectives. Emphasis will be placed on practical tips and real-world examples, exploring the Dos and Don’ts, important soft skills, and management of difficult conversations--ultimately aiming to enhance the effectiveness of clinical trials through strong and cooperative relationships.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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The Hidden Costs of Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Research
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

The Hidden Costs of Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Research

In this session, we will explore the often-overlooked financial and operational costs associated with implementing diversity and inclusion (D&I) practices in clinical research, and practical strategies to mitigate these costs. While the benefits of D&I are widely recognized, understanding and addressing the hidden costs can help organizations create more effective and sustainable strategies. By enhancing their competencies and skills in this area, attendees will be better equipped to implement effective and sustainable D&I practices in their organizations.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Unlocking Professional Engagement at Sites Through Individual Retention Conversations
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Unlocking Professional Engagement at Sites Through Individual Retention Conversations

Clinical research professional shortages, high turnover rates, and an increasingly competitive job market contribute to negatively impact the conduct and success of clinical research studies. Employing individual retention conversations to improve and foster retention is one strategy in addressing this issue. These conversations empower managers/leaders in addressing areas of concern impacting an organization’s workforce while building transparency and trust. Attendees will learn the benefits and gain practical skills in preparing for, participating in, and conducting individual retention conversations, focusing on creating a positive atmosphere, asking probing questions, actively listening, and developing action plans based on conversation outcomes. Participants will leave with strategies for continuous follow-up and ongoing professional development, ensuring a sustained positive impact on employee satisfaction and retention. Results from pilot study will be discussed.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Small Talk—Investigator Engagement
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Small Talk—Investigator Engagement

Drop-in for this quick 30-minute "small talk" offering insightful and practical tips from your ACRP peers.

This will be a casual setting where you can learn from—and connect with—your colleagues.

This session does NOT offer ACRP Contact Hours.

Additional Small Talk Sessions:

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Perfecting the Science and Art of Staffing for Clinical Trials
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Perfecting the Science and Art of Staffing for Clinical Trials

Maintaining optimal staffing levels to meet the dynamic nature of the clinical research environment effectively and efficiently has significant operational, financial, and compliance implications. Managing appropriate staffing levels across centralized offices requires communication, access to data, defined metrics, and an understanding of institutional processes. There are multiple mechanisms, tools, and resources to determine appropriate staffing levels for business roles to manage your clinical research portfolio. During this panel discussion, we will address various institutional  methodologies for calculating full-time equivalent (FTE) needs and the data required to make informed decisions. This will help attendees identify opportunities for improving their infrastructure by exploring optimum staffing levels by task/function to promote quality research, meet sponsor expectations, and enhance workplace satisfaction levels in every role. We will also explore approaches to plan for growth and project future FTE needs.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Mindy Muenich, Senior Director, Huron Consulting Group

  • Shannen Nelson, Executive Director, Clinical Research Operations, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

  • Stephanie Pabst, Assistant Vice President, Sponsored Research Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Building an Integrated Clinical Evidence Strategy for Medical Device R&D
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Building an Integrated Clinical Evidence Strategy for Medical Device R&D

This session will describe the current state of clinical evidence planning for medical devices with respect to regulatory submissions (with emphasis on the expectations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union Commission) and broader business needs (e.g., reimbursement, support of claims). A description with specific examples of implementation of an integrated clinical evidence strategy and deliverables within medical device research and development (R&D) will be shared. Benefits and challenges encountered with clinical evidence planning and regulatory submissions for medical devices used in oncology settings will also be shared. Specific action points for organizations looking to build an integrated evidence strategy will be described and discussed.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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Cultural Competence and International Healthcare Professionals in Clinical Research
Apr
27
2:00 PM14:00

Cultural Competence and International Healthcare Professionals in Clinical Research

In this session, we will look at the incorporation of international healthcare professionals into study sites with an emphasis on the importance of cultural competence in clinical research settings, including consideration of how the lack of it can compromise patient screening and enrollment. We will also review common misconceptions about cultural competence and provide examples of how to address improving its strength among individuals and organization-wide, and tips for enhancing its applications at the site level.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Designing a Centralized Clinical Research Professional Staffing Model: A Case Study
May
6
3:30 PM15:30

Designing a Centralized Clinical Research Professional Staffing Model: A Case Study

Clinical research staffing demands ebb and flow during the protocol and subject management lifecycle. In this session, Jaylene Weigel (Senior Director of Clinical Research Management and Support, Children’s Mercy Hospital) and Emily Traw (Consulting Manager, Huron) will discuss their experience validating the need for a centralized clinical research professionals support model, review essential elements of the model design process, provide an overview of benefits and drawbacks of the model and rationale for use at Children’s Mercy, and lessons learned during implementation. This session is appropriate for all levels of attendees, but particularly those in leadership roles. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the processes and tools used as this site identified and designed their staffing model.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Emily Traw, Consulting Manager, Huron Consulting Group

  • Jaylene Weigel, Senior Director of Clinical Research Support and Management, Clinical Trials Office, Children's Mercy Hospital

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Navigating the Single IRB Process
May
6
3:30 PM15:30

Navigating the Single IRB Process

Most federally funded, multisite studies already require oversight by a single institutional review board (sIRB), and soon that likely will be true for U.S. Food and Drug Administration-regulated studies. It’s no secret that sIRB review presents challenges for study teams, especially those managing investigator-initiated studies. This session will help you understand your responsibilities related to sIRB review and point you to resources you can take advantage of.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Polly Goodman, Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Operations, SMART IRB, Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center

  • Michael Linke, PhD, Adjunct Professor/Director of Education, University of Cincinnati/SMART IRB

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Key Clinical Research Regulatory Updates for Thriving in 2024
May
6
3:30 PM15:30

Key Clinical Research Regulatory Updates for Thriving in 2024

Clinical research regulations, guidances, and advisories that come in an unending stream from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are a fact of life that no one in the professional can afford to ignore. This session provides a high-level overview of recent and emerging regulatory issues in the conduct of clinical trials and other kinds of research in the United States.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

David Vulcano, LCSW, MBA, CIP, RAC, Vice President, Research Compliance & Integrity, HCA Healthcare

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Continuing the Conversation: We’re on This Journey Together: Advancing Clinical Trials as a Team
May
6
3:30 PM15:30

Continuing the Conversation: We’re on This Journey Together: Advancing Clinical Trials as a Team

If you were inspired by the Signature Series presentation “We’re On This Journey Together,” want to hear more about the panelists’ initiatives, and are keen to ask questions of them, this is the session for you. If you are also interested in sharing what you, your team, and your organization have learned from your own clinical research outreach and improvement initiatives in a lively setting, here’s your chance to spread the word. This follow-up session to Monday morning’s gathering continues the conversation started there, and allows audience members the opportunity to ask questions and share the best practices they have cultivated for promoting excellence in and awareness of clinical trials in their workplaces and communities.

Speakers:

  • Rick Fisher, Senior Vice President, Operations, Velocity Clinical Research

  • Erin Stackowitz, US Innovation Lead, Clinical Study Unit, Sanofi

  • Nancy Sacco, PhD, VP Head of Clinical and Site Development Operations, SiteBridge Research Inc (Moderator)

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Are Hybrid Trials the Answer to Aligning Decentralized Methods with Diversity Goals?
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Are Hybrid Trials the Answer to Aligning Decentralized Methods with Diversity Goals?

This interactive presentation provides an in-depth look at, and tools and resources for, protocol development with the goal of aligning the principles set forth in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's draft guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with the application of methods for decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) in the field.

CEU: 2.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Nadina Jose, MD, Assistant Professor, School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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Ethics in Action: Handling Cases of Exemption from Informed Consent
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Ethics in Action: Handling Cases of Exemption from Informed Consent

This panel discussion reviews the ethical, regulatory, and operational challenges of conducting Exemption from Informed Consent (EFIC) trials in cases involving life-saving, emergency treatments when obtaining consent is impossible.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Making the Business and Personal Cases for Improving Clinical Trial Competencies
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Making the Business and Personal Cases for Improving Clinical Trial Competencies

This session will focus on building competencies, gaining stakeholder buy-in, and enhancing development in clinical research settings. Attendees will gain hands-on experience they can use to improve their companies and teams. With specific competencies being practiced by the right people, teams will see streamlined processes and eliminated or reduced non-essential tasks, leading to spending optimal time on revenue-generating activities. Furthermore, organization-specific competencies can facilitate better communication and increase the effectiveness of employee development.

CEU: 2.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Subject Injury: Creating a Process from Pre-Award through Participant Enrollment
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Subject Injury: Creating a Process from Pre-Award through Participant Enrollment

Concerned about capturing subject injury charges? Worried items and services have slipped out the door when Sponsor has agreed to pay? Unsure if all stakeholders have been alerted to a subject injury? Join us and hear about our journey in building a process to train all stakeholders and ensure billing compliance.

This presentation is geared to research billing compliance professionals, study coordinators, and site staff involved in operations and administration.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Kevin Gardner, Jr., Director, Clinical Trials Office, Penn State College of Medicine

  • Kimberly Perkins, Assistant Director, Clinical Trials Office, Penn State College of Medicine

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Integrating Clinical Research into a Community-Based Practice
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Integrating Clinical Research into a Community-Based Practice

What if we could bring clinical trial opportunities right to where potential participants get their annual physical, their flu vaccine, and the majority of their care? Hear from an investigator and a leader from an integrated research organization as they discuss the challenges and how they overcame them to build a successful research partnership in a community-based primary care practice.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Enhancing the Patient Experience through Community Outreach and Engagement
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Enhancing the Patient Experience through Community Outreach and Engagement

As regulatory expectations concerning greater diversity in clinical trials ramp up, a key change in focus for the clinical research enterprise becomes understanding the importance toward the patient experience of incorporating community outreach and engagement into site and sponsor operations. This session offers practical examples of tactics tied to diversity plans, community-based patient engagement, and clinical study recruitment efforts.

CEU: 2.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Monair McGregor, PhD, MPH, MCHES, Community Engagement Program Manager, SiteBridge Research Inc

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Building and Maintaining Your Team in the Middle of a Talent War
May
6
2:15 PM14:15

Building and Maintaining Your Team in the Middle of a Talent War

Ongoing staff turnover challenges in the midst of burnout trends, talent poaching, career changes, and other trends can leave hiring and training officers feeling as if they are in the middle of a war to attract and retain talent. This session looks at staff retention strategies, best hiring practices, out-of-the-box recruiting strategies, and how to cultivate a culture of communication in order to build a functional and effective team.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Lauren Stockwell, Director of Outreach & Engagement, Clinical Research Fastrack

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Partnering with Community Health Centers to Diversify Study Enrollment
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Partnering with Community Health Centers to Diversify Study Enrollment

This session will share results from a survey of community health centers (CHCs) nationwide about their experiences, roadblocks, and needs related to supporting clinical studies. A CHC framework and toolkit will be provided so that study sites and sponsors will have the background needed to effectively approach CHCs for clinical trial collaboration.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Implementing a New Role for Sites: The Study Manager
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Implementing a New Role for Sites: The Study Manager

In a time when study coordinator burn-out can have dire add-on effects for entire study teams, this session presents a new role--the study manager--and the tools for making it an effective site-level solution to adjust to a radically changing world of sponsor expectations.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Jean Kelly, Associate Director of Clinical Operations, Rochester Clinical Research

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Defining Roles and Responsibilities at the Study Site When Non-Compliance is Detected
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Defining Roles and Responsibilities at the Study Site When Non-Compliance is Detected

This session highlights the importance of a successful partnership between research operations and compliance, and will walk through lessons learned from cases of billing and research noncompliance that could only be resolved through effective collaboration and mutual support.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Rapid-Fire & Poster Presentations
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Rapid-Fire & Poster Presentations

Rapid-Fire Sessions:

This part of the session features a series of five-minute presentations on hot topics in clinical research. These dynamic, “rapid-fire” presentations are designed to differentiate between myth and fact, provide guidance on hot topics and offer fun inspirational stories.

Mind the Gap: Achieving and Maintaining Effective Communication Between Sites and Sponsors
Speaker: Morgan Heck
This session presents a conversation outline for covering the many potential pain points that may arise in communications between clinical trial sites and sponsors who are new to one another, as well as long-term partners who nevertheless are experiencing ongoing miscommunication hassles.

Tools and Measurements for Driving Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials
Speaker: Cameron Davis
This session examines how to identify resources and strategies for achieving operational excellence, improving access, and enhancing diverse and inclusive representation of patients in clinical trials.

Poster Sessions:

A 5–8-minute multimedia "poster presentation" given from the podium will feature a case study and real-life lessons learned around operational and process efficiencies in clinical research.

Evolving Training for and Satisfaction with Electronic Medical Record Systems
Speaker: Paula Smailes, DNP, RN, CCRP
This session addresses evolving clinical research training at one institution to ensure competency and increase the satisfaction of users of its electronic medical record (EMR) system, along with the value of an eLearning methodology to facilitate training.

Interpreting and Capitalizing on Research Participant Satisfaction Surveys
Speakers: Paula Smailes, DNP, RN, CCRP, Lisa Hafer, Deanna Golden-Kreutz, PhD, Holly Bookless, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Emily Brown
This poster focuses on how study sites can most effectively use research participant satisfaction surveys for collecting and benefiting from data on patient demographics, motivating factors for research participation, perceptions on the informed consent process, and questions pertaining to the research experience.

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A Holistic CRA Evaluation Process for Improving Monitoring Visits
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

A Holistic CRA Evaluation Process for Improving Monitoring Visits

This presentation will detail the importance of transparency, positivity, and professionalism framing all aspects of the process for evaluating the performance of clinical research associates (CRAs) during study site monitoring visits. It will review best preparation and communication practices for visit execution that will elevate the evaluation beyond a simple "pass or fail" determination, leading to a better understanding of competent performance, training needs, and the value of trust between evaluators and CRAs.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Elizabeth Weeks-Rowe, LVN, CCRA, Independent Clinical Research Consultant, Elizabeth Weeks-Rowe Consulting, LLC

Related Blog Content:

Who Monitors the Monitors? CRA Evaluations Essential to Better Trials and Relationships

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Critical Thinking for a Quality-Driven Approach to Clinical Research
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Critical Thinking for a Quality-Driven Approach to Clinical Research

This session delves into the transformative potential of critical thinking in clinical research, highlighting strategies that can help professionals quickly adapt and build a quality-driven approach as the industry undergoes rapid and continuous changes.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Matt Baublits, Associate Director, Country Clinical Quality Manager, Merck

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content":

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Embracing Diversity to Advance Health Equity in Clinical Research
May
6
11:45 AM11:45

Embracing Diversity to Advance Health Equity in Clinical Research

This session is tailored for anyone who wants to learn more about methods for, and the potential impacts of, designing and implementing research through a health equity lens, including tactics for effectively addressing disparities, fostering inclusivity, and enhancing participant engagement through culturally competent strategies.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Aimee Pehrson, MHA, MPH, CCRC, Researcher, The University of Tennessee and Prometheus Federal Services

Watch a Sneak Peek into the Session Content:

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Fine Tuning Your Organization's Business Strategy for a Better Future in Research
May
6
10:30 AM10:30

Fine Tuning Your Organization's Business Strategy for a Better Future in Research

Attendees in this session will learn from case studies how to assess their organization’s current business strategy, develop a value proposition and competitive advantage, and utilize a structured method leading to a new organizational strategy that is best suited to their situation as a site, contract research organization (CRO), or other stakeholder in the clinical research enterprise.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Fraser Gibson, Project Manager, Fortrea

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Using Simulation to Train the Next Generation to Provide Informed Consent
May
6
10:30 AM10:30

Using Simulation to Train the Next Generation to Provide Informed Consent

Explore how one institution implemented an informed consent training program through both didactic training and simulated consenting scenarios. Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to implement similar programs at their home institutions. 

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Kevin Gardner, Jr., Director, Clinical Trials Office, Penn State College of Medicine

Related Blog Content:

Simulated Informed Consent Training Can Lead to Real-World Improvements

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The Power of Coordinator Communication for Better Trials
May
6
10:30 AM10:30

The Power of Coordinator Communication for Better Trials

A powerful element in study start-up and ongoing study implementation success is the study coordinator. Building a network for coordinators across sites that are conducting the same (or similar) protocols can prove to be the secret ingredient to success. This session will demonstrate the power of peer-to-peer communication, mentorship, and support in a research consortium.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

Teri Crumb, Project Manager, PNRC Consortium

Margaret Kamel, PhD, Director of Research Projects, Emory University, Health Sciences Research Building

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A CRA Training Program for Overcoming Workforce Development Roadblocks
May
6
10:30 AM10:30

A CRA Training Program for Overcoming Workforce Development Roadblocks

As a workforce crisis continues to complicate goals for hiring staff with existing clinical research experience, one small contract research organization (CRO) addressed the issue by creating a successful clinical research associate (CRA) training program. This session offers actionable strategies for enhancing clinical research training programs and empowering teams, and lessons learned for fostering a culture of excellence and growth by setting high expectations and providing early guidance for self-sufficiency.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Preparing for and Thriving in Your First Oncology Trial
May
6
10:30 AM10:30

Preparing for and Thriving in Your First Oncology Trial

This session is designed to help prepare first-time oncology trial team members to face the ins and outs of complex study designs, laboratory considerations, data gathering and management chores, adverse events reports, tumor response assessment, RECIST vs iRECIST issues, and more.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Heidi Kirkpatrick, Sr. Clinical Research Associate, Merck

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The Role of Communication in Ensuring Participant Engagement and Retention in Clinical Trials
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

The Role of Communication in Ensuring Participant Engagement and Retention in Clinical Trials

Be a communication champion and pave the way for successful clinical trials! Discover the transformative impact of effective communication on trial success. Learn practical strategies to conduct informed consent discussions, provide compassionate updates, and build participant trust. Uncover the secrets to boosting participant retention and satisfaction. PIs, CRCs, and CRAs will unlock clinical trial success through the power of communication. Equip yourself with a communication toolkit with patient education techniques, cultural considerations, and decentralized trial communication solutions. Prepare to excel in a digital era with active listening skills and ethical practices. Elevate your clinical trials with our comprehensive communication approach.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

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A Crash Course in the Basics of Clinical Trial Monitoring
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

A Crash Course in the Basics of Clinical Trial Monitoring

Too often, individuals aspiring to become Clinical Research Associates (e.g., Study Coordinators) don’t have the required means to learn about this crucial role. Moreover, new CRAs are often sent into their earliest site monitoring visits with limited practical training or oversight, and with little appreciation for the best practices of veterans in the field. This hands-on workshop is designed to give practical tools and tips on conducting a monitoring visit, fill gaps in basic monitoring knowledge, give an opportunity to practice monitoring scenarios, and provide a judgement-free environment for asking the questions that new CRAs often hesitate to raise with their managers and Study Coordinators struggle to find answers for.

CEU: 2.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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The Extraordinary History of Risk Management and How Evaluating Risk is Vital to Clinical Research
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

The Extraordinary History of Risk Management and How Evaluating Risk is Vital to Clinical Research

The histories of risk management, banking, library science, and mathematics are all deeply intertwined. This session considers how the tenets of risk management, also known as actuarial science, were first integrated into the clinical research Industry, eventually adopted internationally as part of the ICH E6(R2), and what to expect on the subject in the forthcoming ICH E6(R3) update.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speaker:

Crystal Olson, Senior Clinical Project Manager, ProSciento

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Bridging Financial Gaps in Clinical Trials to Address Patient Access and Inclusivity
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

Bridging Financial Gaps in Clinical Trials to Address Patient Access and Inclusivity

There is an appreciable link between a would-be trial participant's financial situation and the levels of access and inclusivity in trials. This presentation examines some of the financial challenges to clinical trial participation, solutions and strategies that can be implemented to overcome those barriers, and other considerations for creating a more equitable healthcare system that leaves no patient behind.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Michelle Chawla, Diversity Program Lead, Merck

  • Adam Penna, Sr. Clinical Operations Manager, Associate Director, Clinical Operations, Merck

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How Much is Too Much for One CRC to Handle?
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

How Much is Too Much for One CRC to Handle?

There's no doubt that worker overload drives low morale and high turnover among staff--in clinical research settings no less than anywhere else. This session considers how trial site managers can be fair and equitable with their teams in terms of workload expectations. The development of a workload acuity tool can put measures in place to establish a consistent process leading to better hiring decisions and increased employee satisfaction, efficiency, and productivity.

CEU: 2.00 ACRP

Speakers:

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Putting Theory to Practice: Advancing the Clinical Research Workforce in the Real World
May
6
9:15 AM09:15

Putting Theory to Practice: Advancing the Clinical Research Workforce in the Real World

This session focuses on one organization's experience with developing its clinical project management workforce through interdepartmental cooperation and the incorporation of the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trial Competency's framework for job roles. Examples will be shared of the tools and diverse communication methods used to encourage better engagement and synthesis of information leading to a highly trained and agile clinical research team.

CEU: 1.00 ACRP

Speakers:

  • Kim Bloom, MPA, CCRC, Clinical Research Project Manager, University of Utah, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Data Coordinating Center

  • Heather Gramse, BS, CCRP, Program Director, University of Utah, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Data Coordinating Center

  • Marie Kay, BA, PMP, LSSGB, CCRC, Program Director, University of Utah, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, Data Coordinating Center

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