News By: Emily Norris

Whether you are a seasoned clinical research professional or a newbie to all things trial-related, getting the most out of your first time attending a major industry-focused conference like ACRP 2026 means more than having an “elevator speech” about your job role prepared and taking snapshots of the most interesting session slides. 

Whether the universe seems to be guiding you toward an “it was meant to be” career change into project management, or you have already made the switch but want to know more about what you’ve gotten yourself into, you can take a deep dive into how the project manager role fits into the clinical research enterprise during a full-day ACRP 2026 Workshop in Orlando in April.

Recruitment of clinical trial participants continues to be a major challenge, in spite of widespread investment and innovations. Recruitment delays and shortfalls increase study timelines and increase costs in an environment where everyone is trying to do more with fewer resources.

Protocol deviations are a familiar part of clinical research, yet historically there has been little regulatory clarity around their classification and management. Clinical teams are now expected to demonstrate stronger inspection readiness, consistent deviation classification, and well-reasoned documentation. By applying the new structure and definitions, clinical research professionals will be able to strengthen deviation categorization and reduce operational risk across diverse study environments.