As Christina Brennan, MD, MBA, CCRC, begins her volunteer duties as the 2025 Chair of the ACRP Board of Trustees, she took time to answer some questions about her experience in the clinical research enterprise, some of the challenges and opportunities facing it, and how ACRP can be of service to its members and stakeholders.
Q: Can you give us the quick highlights along your career roadmap to serving as the 2025 Chair of the Board that you believe will help you achieve your goals in this role?
A: I have dedicated more than 25 years to the clinical research profession, during which I have had the privilege of working as both a principal and sub-investigator on clinical trials. I’ve rolled up my sleeves as a clinical research coordinator, and ultimately, I took on the responsibility of leading the operations of clinical research programs where I work. Currently, I serve as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Research at Northwell Health in New York. Over the years, I’ve recognized the importance of staying current in the industry and partnering with organizations to ensure our voices are heard. This is why I joined ACRP 20 years ago. In the past 11 years, I have served at the local chapter level, including as president, and five years ago, I transitioned to the Board of Trustees.
Q: What clinical research workforce and overall industry challenges and opportunities are top of your mind for addressing this year? What can ACRP, as a volunteer-driven organization, do in 2025 to support its stakeholders—members and non-members alike—as they face up to current conditions in the field?
A: As Chair, I am committed to advancing ACRP’s mission and strategic goals. One of my primary passions is strengthening the clinical research profession. Clinical research professionals are often overlooked as key stakeholders within the research ecosystem. A major part of this issue is the lack of a clear professional identity for this workforce. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not even recognize clinical research as a profession. It’s crucial that we, as an industry, work to change this to ensure that our workforce is sustainable for future generations. ACRP is at the forefront of driving this transformation.
With the growing number of clinical trials both nationally and globally, as evidenced by the registered trials in the National Library of Medicine, it’s estimated that there are more than 40,000 clinical research coordinators in the U.S. alone supporting these trials. This community needs to be more engaged to improve membership and retention. ACRP should continue to be the primary organization that supports clinical research professionals, remaining relevant in this evolving field. We must continue to develop funding and partnerships to fuel ACRP’s growth, as collaboration is key to strengthening our research ecosystem.
I am also dedicated to promoting research certification and professional development. Earning certification validates an individual’s skills and expertise. ACRP offers a variety of certifications to meet the needs of different professionals. Personally, I became certified 20 years ago, and I strongly believe we should make certification an industry standard.
I further aim to enhance the effectiveness and engagement of the Board to have a greater impact on the organization. My goal is to foster an environment where all Board members actively contribute and work together. As Chair of the Board of Trustees for ACRP in 2025, I hope that we can build an even stronger community of clinical research professionals. Clinical research is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and the healthcare system as a whole. It has been my passion, and I am grateful that I chose this career.
“We are delighted to have Christina take the reins of our Board and to work with her and its returning and new members for 2025, representing a diverse group of global clinical research thought leaders and organizational champions,” says Susan P. Landis, ACRP Executive Director. “Our volunteer Board is key to maintaining ACRP’s passion for promoting excellence in all facets of the clinical research enterprise. We are grateful for its members’ dedication to contributing their time, energy, and expertise for the ongoing benefit of ACRP and its members.”
Edited by Gary Cramer
