Partnering & Outsourcing Editorial

  1. Everyone Is A Consultant Now 8/19/2026

    Jon Newton argues clinical research’s “vanishing middle” is giving rise to a more flexible workforce of consultants, specialists, and boutique firms.

  2. What The Sponsor–CRO Relationship Gets Wrong — On Both Sides 8/17/2026

    The CRO's value is not execution alone. It is the depth of perspective that comes from having seen hundreds of trials across disease areas and regulatory environments. 

  3. 5 Signs Your Clinical Trial Needs Outside Help 8/13/2026

    Could you use some outside help? The right outside partner can bring the expertise, capacity, and perspective needed to get studies back on track.

  4. Why Vendor Oversight Breaks Down At Handoffs 8/11/2026

    Is a vendor handoff really complete once the file is sent? Not quite. Sponsors still need context, ownership, and evidence to keep trials moving.

  5. Delays At The Handoff: Where Breakdowns Occur Among The Sponsor, CRO, And Site 7/23/2026

    Consultant Jason C. Bork identifies 10 of the most common points at which a trial can break down before and after patient recruitment.

  6. From The Lab To Regulations As An IRB Specialist 7/17/2026

    In this 8-question Q&A, Ribu Goyal, an IRB specialist and scientific reviewer at the Mayo Clinic Office for Human Research Protection, talks about everything from the details of her job to how sponsors could improve their collaboration with their IRBs. 

  7. The Profit Margin Double Standard That Needs To Change 7/10/2026

    We expect pharmaceutical companies to have sizable profit margins, but we collectively scoff at research sites for achieving the same. Maria P. Ladd explores this difference in expectations and why it needs to change for the sake of the industry.

  8. Why "Steady Evolution" Best Describes AI's Future 7/1/2026

    I hosted a panel of clinical development veterans to separate AI hype from reality. Their message was clear: AI will change clinical trials, but success will depend less on the technology itself than on adoption, culture, and realistic expectations.

  9. Why Building Long-Term Value And Making Clinical Progress Are Inextricable 6/23/2026

    Dicot Pharma CEO Elin Trampe discusses how clinical milestones, financing strategy, shareholder value, and partnering considerations must be tightly integrated in early development through late-stage planning. 

  10. What Really Happens At The Site When Sponsors Pull Back Mid-Trial 6/19/2026

    When sponsors slow or reduce operational spending due to financial pressure, strategic pivots, or internal restructuring, sites — and patients — suffer. Curo Research CCO Amy Bland explains how sponsors can better manage operational changes.