News By: Emily Norris

The six-day, 355-mile cycling journey from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Washington, D.C., raises funds for the ACRP Access for Students to Clinical Research Training (ASCRT) Scholarship Program, ACRP Certification Scholarship, and educational grants for the ACRP Annual Conference.

The global clinical research community watched closely for the release of ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the long-awaited update to the foundational guideline from the International Council on Harmonization (ICH). On September 9, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted the final version on its website and published it in the Federal Register. This signals that the guideline is officially available in the United States and provides a clear reference point for industry and regulators alike. 

Recognizing that successfully onboarding entrants into clinical research programs is only the beginning of the battle necessary for building a durable and engaged workforce, Merck and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) have collaborated on a bold approach to training and keeping some of the company’s newest and most promising talent on the path to long-term careers in clinical trials.

Alzheimer’s clinical development has moved from decades of disappointment toward cautious optimism. For nearly 20 years, most Phase III programs targeting amyloid ended in futility, leaving clinicians and caregivers disheartened.

Because nothing stands still for very long in the clinical research enterprise and time is a precious commodity, rather than coming in the form of full-fledged, long-term programs focused on their needs, ongoing education for principal investigators (PIs) tasked with leading clinical trial teams often comes in other guises. These may include learning in an on-the-job manner, through structured (though perhaps scattered) courses, by attending sponsor/contract research organization–conducted trainings, or by completing online modules on specialized topics.