Dan Schell articles

1. Where Are We With Clinical Trial Tokenization? 6/19/2026

   In January 2024, I interviewed Tom Dougherty about a topic many clinical research professionals had heard mentioned but few could confidently explain: tokenization. I wanted to get caught up on any progress that has been made, so I completed this Q&A with Dougherty, who is Real-World Data Strategy Director, CMR - Clinical Data Science & Evidence at Novo Nordisk.

2. What ClinOps Gets Wrong About Pediatric Trials 6/12/2026

   Pediatric cancer advocates Brian Burkhardt and Andy Shepperd believe clinical research still confuses retention with relationships. Their lessons on trust, community, and patient support offer valuable insights for clinical operations teams across every therapeutic area.

3. 3 Views From Inside FDA's RTCT Pilot 6/5/2026

   The FDA's RTCT pilot promises to bring clinical trials into the real-time era, but questions remain about governance, oversight, and implementation. We asked three organizations participating in the initiative what they see as the opportunities, challenges, and realities behind the FDA's most ambitious modernization effort in years.

4. The Patient Recruitment Debate Nobody's Having 6/2/2026

   A conversation with patient recruitment consultant Paul Ivsen turns into something much bigger: a candid look at why recruitment vendors all sound alike, why sponsors still struggle to evaluate them, and why the industry avoids debating what actually works.

5. My View: The Clinical Trials Technology Congress 5/26/2026

   I attended the inaugural Clinical Trials Technology Congress in London expecting to hear plenty about AI, digital tools, and the future of clinical trials. What stood out instead was how many speakers focused on a much more immediate issue: reducing complexity for sites, patients, and study teams.

6. Can Independent Pharmacies Succeed Where Walgreens Failed? 5/21/2026

   Josh Rose, CEO of Hawthorne Health, believes independent community pharmacies may succeed where large retail chains struggled in clinical research. In this interview, Rose explains how Hawthorne is building pharmacy-based trial sites focused on underserved communities, chronic disease studies, and trusted patient relationships.

7. Why Site Engagement Isn't Just A Role Anymore 5/14/2026

   GSK’s Laura O'Donnell says site engagement is no longer just a function or team, it’s an organization-wide capability. In this article, she discusses why the traditional CRA relationship model has broken down, how sponsors are using data and AI to better support sites, and why human connection still matters in an increasingly automated clinical trial environment.

8. Collaboration Isn't Sexy. That's Kind of the Point. 5/8/2026

   SCRS’s Collaborate Forward playbook isn’t about reinventing clinical trials; it’s about fixing how people work together. Based on real-world examples, the initiative shows how small, practical changes in collaboration are already improving study startup, site relationships, and operational performance.

9. From Hint To Headline: FOMAT Acquires Site Network 5/5/2026

   FOMAT Medical CEO, Nick Focil, talks about the company’s acquisition of site network Topography Health — a deal that expands FOMAT’s national footprint and reflects a broader trend of site network growth aimed at scaling access, data, and operational reach.

10. The Industry Talks Access — Fabian Sandoval Builds It 5/1/2026

    Fabian Sandoval is redefining what a clinical research site looks like — building trust through community partnerships, media, and education to improve trial access and awareness long before enrollment begins.