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As the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) celebrates its golden anniversary this year, we are pleased to continue our series of Q&A interviews, “Forecasts from the ACRP Fellows: Insights on the Future of Clinical Research as ACRP Turns 50.” Our latest guest is Steven Ziemba, MBA, PhD, CIP, CCRC, CPI, ACRP-PM, FACHE, FACRP.

Modern challenges facing independent clinical trial sites include more complex protocols and increasing operational demands; growing pressure on site budgets, staffing, and cash flow; and consolidation and changing expectations from sponsors and contract research organizations. Meanwhile, rays of hope are offered by new digital tools and more efficient methods for study delivery. Delving into these complexities in their ACRP 2027 presentation on “Future-Proofing Independent Research Sites in a Changing Industry” in San Diego (April 30 – May 3) will be a trio of leaders from the PCRS Network, LLC.

A lot of intertwining forces are at play when it comes to the challenge of retaining talent at any stage of their careers in the clinical research enterprise, but one tactic that should alleviate much of the issues tied to newer hires dropping out with alarming rapidity is learning “not to put the cart before the horse,” says a workforce development observer who will speak to the issue at ACRP 2027 in San Diego.

We’ve all heard the maxim that “bigger is not better,” but who is really paying attention to it in the clinical research enterprise? One expert observer who will speak at ACRP 2027 in San Diego says that, as clinical research site networks expand through acquisitions, partnerships, new site activations, and geographic growth, the challenge extends beyond increasing the number of locations. She notes that, particularly for advanced and complex therapies, sustainable expansion requires operational infrastructure, governance, and site readiness to keep pace with network growth.

In her upcoming presentation for ACRP 2027 in San Diego, Sahar Zahid, MD, will examine the “butterfly effect” of such actions as a single copy-and-paste from a source document into an AI tool by one professional potentially having repercussions downwind for participant privacy, sponsor confidentiality, contractual obligations, institutional policy, vendor governance, data security, study integrity, and organizational trust.