2024 – a year in review.
What a year! In 2024, I had the pleasure of chairing half a dozen conferences across the US and Europe with the Praxis team. The overwhelming themes at these industry gatherings were diversity, AI, and decentralized trials. I’m delighted that we work in an industry that understands and places emphasis on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion as we work together to determine if the investigational products we’re researching are safe and effective for all of us. I enjoyed listening to many colleagues share the future of AI, with keen interest in how we can use it to help identify potential participants for the many studies we support. And I am genuinely happy that our industry continues to uncover ways to reduce participation barriers for the study volunteers we depend on.
Specific to the patient recruitment space, we’ve seen a continued interest from sponsors in working with strategic PR&R agencies offering smart, creative, and cost-efficient solutions to help reduce enrollment periods and reach enrollment goals as soon as possible. I believe our tenure and service excellence is the reason we’re blessed to have so many sponsors ask for Praxis, year after year.
On a personal note, this year I was reminded of the importance of our work when my father-in-law asked for guidance in advance of participating in two research studies at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Two decades in the drug development industry allowed me to explain the purpose of informed consent, the objectives of each oncology trial, the visit/infusion schedule, and what adverse events were. I reminded him these were voluntary each time he was admitted to the emergency room, and he was quick to say that “any discomfort or setback was worth it” if his cancer treatment showed any evidence of working. In the end, neither worked as hoped, but prior to his passing, he took solace in knowing that his participation may help benefit others faced with a difficult diagnosis.
2025 will mark my 15th year with Praxis. I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary team that genuinely understands the importance of our industry and how to support the study teams we serve. If we can do the same for you, let’s connect.