2026 – VOL. 1
From the SCRS Team
Technology is reshaping clinical trials, but it hasn’t replaced the human infrastructure that makes them work. Sites still absorb the friction between protocol design and patient reality, often with limited support. When that support goes unrecognized or unused, burden shifts back to already-stretched coordinators and both retention and data quality suffer.
The path forward pairs digital tools with human-centered design at every layer of trial operations. Retention is a design decision, not an afterthought. Support models, role-based training, and mobile workflows all work best when they’re built around how patients actually live and how sites actually operate. That alignment is what keeps studies on track.
This issue focuses on the operational realities sites face every day and what the industry can do to better support them. Inside: why traditional budget models leave sites absorbing costs sponsors don’t account for, how invisible support resources create unnecessary burden for already-stretched teams, what mobile tools in clinical trials are delivering and where new friction is emerging, why cardiometabolic trial retention needs to be solved at the design stage, and why human-centered support remains essential even as digital tools reshape how trials run. We’re also featuring case studies from our Cut>25 initiative, highlighting how sites have meaningfully reduced training burden.
Up Next: June 1-2 in Scottsdale, join us at the SCRS West: Site Innovation Summit, where industry leaders and innovation experts will convene to share trends and realities shaping the future of trials.
Featured Posts
Site operations costs are escalating, but AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform financial management in clinical research. From faster budget negotiations to automated reconciliation, AI can address the pain points that burden sites and sponsors. Read on to discover how this technology revolution is reshaping the financial landscape of clinical trials.
Sales in clinical research isn’t about convincing, it’s about connecting. The most successful organizations don’t have bigger sales teams; they have cultures where everyone contributes to growth. What does it mean when your entire team becomes your “hidden sales force”? Read on to discover why the best organizations don’t sell harder — they lead better.
Sites juggle multiple studies and endless questions, but the clear guidance they need often lags behind. Explore why timely answers and stronger communication are essential to keeping trials running smoothly.
With 80% of trials failing to recruit enough patients and an explosion of recruitment vendors, how do you choose the right partner? This framework breaks down the landscape, from creative agencies to AI-driven technology, and reveals why success depends on understanding patient motivation, not just operations. Read on to discover how to select strategies that build trust and remove barriers.
Cognizant, in collaboration with research KOLs from Australia, delves into the impact of Teletrials in Australia and how these hybrid, decentralized model of trials are bringing novel therapies closer to regional, rural and remote Australians. Teletrials promise to be a global case study on how public health can be promoted at a national level. Download this insightful publication and learn about the steps being taken by Australian Teletrial Program (ATP) to promote teletrials, point of view from Cognizant on how intelligent tech and process alignment can further enhance efficacy of teletrials and real world use cases of teletrials.
Direct-to-patient clinical trials are removing traditional barriers to research participation by bringing study activities into patients’ homes. Through partnerships that combine virtual site operations with global medication delivery, trials can now reach more diverse populations while reducing travel burdens and accelerating enrollment. Read on to learn how Science 37 and Catalent are making this possible.
Latest News from SCRS
September 3, 2026 – The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) today announced the finalists for the 2026 Eagle Award, the clinical research industry’s leading tool for evaluating and improving how sponsors and CROs partner with research sites. Sponsor finalists: Bayer, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Merck/MSD, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi CRO finalists: IQVIA, Medpace, Novotech, Parexel, Worldwide Clinical Trials For more than a decade,
The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) congratulates David Vulcano on his appointment as CEO of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). At the invitation of SCRS Founder Christine Pierre, David joined the SCRS Leadership Council in 2015 and has served as Honorary President since 2021.
October 13, 2025 – The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) proudly announces the 2025 recipients of the prestigious SCRS Eagle Award: Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) in the sponsor category and Medpace in the CRO category. Now in its 16th year, the SCRS Eagle Award celebrates outstanding collaborations between clinical
Let Your Voice Be Heard
If you’d like improve the clinical trial ecosystem, the Site Landscape Survey offers a direct channel to ideate solutions that address real challenges site faces daily.
Share your perspective on current trends, operational challenges, and collaborative barriers to help guide industry initiatives that truly matter to site operations.
Open to sites, sponsors, CROs, and service providers globally.
About SCRS
Founded in 2012, SCRS is a global trade organization that unifies the voice of the clinical research site community to create greater site sustainability. Representing more than 11,000 sites in 50+ countries, SCRS membership provides sites with a community dedicated to advocacy, education, connectivity and mentorship. SCRS is an influential voice for sites and an active partner in industry-wide initiatives and dialogues focused on improving the clinical research enterprise. Our Voice. Our Community. Your Success.
