It likely came as no surprise to anyone when the dueling pianists for the party highlighting ACRP’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Orlando last Saturday evening (April 25) launched into the familiar strains of Billy Joel’s song about “The Piano Man.” While the song’s lyrics are certainly not about clinical researchers, the notion of having a happy place (like an annual conference) where people of all sorts can gather, commiserate with one another, and develop strong connections seems very apt for members of an often-underrecognized profession. It can feel like a lonely calling at times, but mingling, learning, and rejuvenating with one’s peers whenever possible is definitely “better than being alone,” to paraphrase the songster.
Thankfully, ACRP 2026 delivered many reasons for its nearly 1,300 attendees to be “feeling all right” as they celebrated their accomplishments in the field and gained inspiration for innovation through workshops, sessions, networking events, Expo Hall interactions, and initiative-driven meetings. As the schedule came to a close on Monday (April 27), Signature Series speaker David Burrow, PharmD, JD, Director, Office of Scientific Investigations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urged his audience to “act with courage, driven by purpose” and to take Sun Tzu’s philosophy about finding opportunity in the midst of chaos to heart.
“There’s a tremendous opportunity here. We just need to be bold enough [to take advantage of it],” Burrow said of the current climate of uncertainties for clinical research in terms of trends in the geopolitical environment, technological advances, operational approaches and data sources, evolving global standards for research, U.S. strategic priorities, FDA operational changes and resource constraints, and the hearts and minds of the clinical research workforce.
Cautioning that “what’s true today might not be true tomorrow,” Burrow nevertheless characterized the conference’s “Next is Now” theme as sporting a “seize the day” vibe, and noted that the highest calling of clinical research professionals is to “work together to navigate uncertainty, improve trial quality, support patients, and increase overall contentment” through their dedication to advancements in medical treatments.
“I want you encourage you to take roles and projects on that are stretches for you” and that provide chances for growth, he added. “We have to be bold in taking advantage of the resources we have available to us. …You’ve got to appreciate that, sometimes when things seem rough, it’s an opportunity to become stronger.”
Resource
FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Center for Clinical Trial Innovation: https://www.fda.gov/C3TI
Reported by Gary Cramer
