News By: Emily Norris

Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) have evolved from a future concept to a present-day necessity. As protocols become more complex, competition for funding increases, and recruitment challenges persist, traditional site-centric models often fail to keep pace.

While clinical research professionals typically understand what has to be submitted to an Institutional Review Board (IRB), the board’s decision-making processes can seem like a ‘black box.’ A mock IRB meeting can be very illuminating, illustrating how regulatory mandates and ethical principles are reconciled with the realities of current clinical research.

Next year is shaping up to be an inflection point in electronic clinical (eClinical) trial technology. As sites, sponsors, contract research organizations, and patients continue to navigate growing protocol complexity and mounting operational pressure, the industry will continue accelerating in 2026 toward solutions that streamline workflows, reduce technological fragmentation, and make research more accessible for the people doing the daily work.