Blog

Of all the “chicken or egg” conundrums inherent in the conduct of clinical research, perhaps the toughest for professionals at study sites to crack concerns which comes first—thoughtful community engagement that leads to robust patient recruitment, or successful patient recruitment that leads to rewarding community engagement. However one chooses to answer the riddle, more than a few presenters at the recent ACRP 2026 gathering in Orlando served up wisdom from the lessons they’ve learned in their research settings about getting recruitment and engagement right.

Robert O’Connor, MS, CCRA, ACRP-CP, FACRP, reflects on career in which he has been able to contribute to groundbreaking global guidance for clinical researchers, improve upon informed consent processes, and begin examining the ethical issues involved in thinking of clinical trials as medical care.

At the recent ACRP 2026 gathering in Orlando, more than a few presentations focused on the whys and how-tos of bringing study teams together from across the divisions between study sites and sponsors/contract research organizations (CROs) that can threaten the stability of everything from new (and perhaps risky) ventures to even the most seemingly solid of projects and long-term partnerships.

For the conference's Workforce & Professional Development track, while some presenters at ACRP 2026 spoke to the importance of a nourishing approach to onboarding for early-talent retention on clinical trials teams, others considered the nuances of workplace dynamics, career growth, and developing a menu of new skills over the long term.

In recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month this May, ACRP asked Narae Christina Kim, MPH, a Director with Huron Consulting Group, a global professional services firm with extensive experience in education and research, to share her thoughts on the importance that AANHPI heritage has had in her life and more broadly in the clinical research enterprise, both for participants and professionals.