Skip to content
The Association of Clinical Research Professionals
  • About ACRP
  • Advocacy
  • My Account

  • Membership

    In this Section

    • Member Benefits
    • Renew Membership
    • Local Chapters
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • ACRP Community
    • Member Directory
    • Discussion Groups

    Advance Yourself

    When you become an ACRP member, you’re joining a network with a global reach—and so much more. Our member community of 20,000 clinical research professionals look to us for gold-standard education, rigorous certification, and indispensable connections. ​

    Membership Benefits

    Organization Membership

    For organizations who want to provide their clinical study teams with continuous, ongoing education and professional development resources, Organization Membership is a turnkey and scalable solution.

    Organization Membership

  • Learning

    In this Section

    • Course Catalog
    • My Courses
    • Home Study
    • Competency Guidelines
    • Clinical Research Glossary

    Popular Training Courses

    Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Simulation

    Understanding Clinical Trial Protocols

    Building Quality Management Systems

    Site Quality Management Tools

    Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center

    ACRP is committed to being a trusted source for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. Access the most accurate and up-to-date information related to clinical research guidelines and regulations.

    Explore Resources

  • Certification

    In this Section

    • Benefits of Certification
    • Exam Preparation
    • Maintain Certification
    • The Academy
    • Verify ACRP Certification
    • How Certification Exams Are Developed

    Our Programs

    • ACRP-CP® Certification
    • CCRC® Certification
    • CCRA® Certification
    • CPI® Certification
    • ACRP-MDP® Specialty
    • ACRP-PM® Specialty

    ACRP Certification Milestone Achievers

    ACRP honors the 2024 Certification Milestone Achievers, an exclusive group of nearly 1,700 professionals who have consistently proven their commitment to conducting clinical trials safely, ethically, and to the highest standard.

    Learn More

  • Careers

    In this Section

    • Getting Started in Clinical Research
    • Competency Guides
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Scholarships & Grants

    Boost Your Prospects with ACRP Certification

    ACRP Certified professionals say their achievement results in increased job responsibility, more employment and advancement opportunities, and recognition—including promotions, bonuses, and salary increases.

    Learn More

    Getting Started in Clinical Research

    Interested in a career in clinical research? You’re in the right place! Explore career options, resources, and more to help you find your first opportunity in clinical research.

    Learn More

  • Insights

    In this Section

    • ACRP Blog
    • Clinical Researcher
    • Press Releases
    • White Papers & Reports
    • ACRP Resource Centers

    Clinical Researcher—October 2025

    The October issue of Clinical Researcher focuses on “Empowering the People Behind the Processes,” offering up a collection of insights on how humans impact the inner workings of clinical trials and vice versa. We hear from a variety of professionals who delve into such areas as the attitudes of primary/urgent care providers toward trials; the importance of productive interrelationships between sponsors, CROs, and sites; the many, and often misunderstood, duties of institutional review boards; the changing role of clinical research associates in technology-driven environments; and more.

    Read October 2025 Issue

    View Archives

    The First-Ever Workforce Survey on the State of the Clinical Research Enterprise

    ACRP asked the clinical research community about changes over the past five to 10 years, the present situation, expectations for the future, and the opportunities to invest in improvements.

    Explore Insights >

     

  • Events

    In this Section

    • Events Calendar
    • ACRP Annual Conference
    • Webinars
    • Chapter Events
    • Clinical Trials Day

    Upcoming Events

    • Virginia Chapter: Pivot with Purpose – Navigating Career Transitions in Clinical Research

      December 10, 2025

    • Northern California Chapter: 2025 Holiday Networking Event

      December 10, 2025

    • New Jersey Chapter: Social Networking Holiday Event 2025

      December 10, 2025

    View All Events

    Discounted Rates for ACRP 2026

    ACRP members save $200 on their ACRP 2026 registration—or $400 when a pre-conference workshop is also selected. With a low membership fee of $160/year, you’ll immediately recoup your investment when you register for the conference.

    ACRP Membership

    Conference Registration

  • Employer Services

    In this Section

    • Employer Services
    • Team Learning
    • Team Certification
    • Verify ACRP Certification
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising & Sponsorships

    Advancing People Advancing Health™

    ACRP empowers organizations to trust that their studies are in the hands of qualified professionals​. When trained and credentialed by ACRP, clinical research teams have the competence and confidence organizations can trust to deliver excellence and maintain integrity in clinical research.​

    Learn About Employer Services >

    Organization Membership

    For organizations who need to provide their staff with on-demand access to foundational clinical research training and continuing education, ACRP Organization Membership is a turnkey and scalable solution.

    Learn More

Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)

Posted November 14, 2024 by Wendy Farmer.

MRCT – A study comparing two or more treatments. https://mrctcenter.org/glossaryterm/comparative-effectiveness-research-cer/

Back to Glossary Index Page

With more than 20,000 members, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) is the only non-profit solely dedicated to representing, supporting, and advocating for clinical research professionals. ACRP supports individuals and life science organizations globally by providing community, education, and credentialing programs. Founded in 1976, ACRP is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to promote excellence in clinical research and whose vision is that clinical research is performed ethically, responsibly, and professionally everywhere in the world.

CONTACT US >     FAQs >     JOIN OUR MAILING LIST >

  • Join the Conversation

When you become an ACRP member, you’re joining a network with a global
reach—and so much more. EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cancellation Policies
  • Ad Choices

© 2025 ACRP. All Rights Reserved

  • Membership

    In this Section

    • Member Benefits
    • Renew Membership
    • Local Chapters
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • ACRP Community
    • Member Directory
    • Discussion Groups

    Advance Yourself

    When you become an ACRP member, you’re joining a network with a global reach—and so much more. Our member community of 20,000 clinical research professionals look to us for gold-standard education, rigorous certification, and indispensable connections. ​

    Membership Benefits

    Organization Membership

    For organizations who want to provide their clinical study teams with continuous, ongoing education and professional development resources, Organization Membership is a turnkey and scalable solution.

    Organization Membership

  • Learning

    In this Section

    • Course Catalog
    • My Courses
    • Home Study
    • Competency Guidelines
    • Clinical Research Glossary

    Popular Training Courses

    Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Simulation

    Understanding Clinical Trial Protocols

    Building Quality Management Systems

    Site Quality Management Tools

    Guidelines and Regulations Resource Center

    ACRP is committed to being a trusted source for all professionals whose roles involve conducting and leading clinical research. Access the most accurate and up-to-date information related to clinical research guidelines and regulations.

    Explore Resources

  • Certification

    In this Section

    • Benefits of Certification
    • Exam Preparation
    • Maintain Certification
    • The Academy
    • Verify ACRP Certification
    • How Certification Exams Are Developed

    Our Programs

    • ACRP-CP® Certification
    • CCRC® Certification
    • CCRA® Certification
    • CPI® Certification
    • ACRP-MDP® Specialty
    • ACRP-PM® Specialty

    ACRP Certification Milestone Achievers

    ACRP honors the 2024 Certification Milestone Achievers, an exclusive group of nearly 1,700 professionals who have consistently proven their commitment to conducting clinical trials safely, ethically, and to the highest standard.

    Learn More

  • Careers

    In this Section

    • Getting Started in Clinical Research
    • Competency Guides
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Scholarships & Grants

    Boost Your Prospects with ACRP Certification

    ACRP Certified professionals say their achievement results in increased job responsibility, more employment and advancement opportunities, and recognition—including promotions, bonuses, and salary increases.

    Learn More

    Getting Started in Clinical Research

    Interested in a career in clinical research? You’re in the right place! Explore career options, resources, and more to help you find your first opportunity in clinical research.

    Learn More

  • Insights

    In this Section

    • ACRP Blog
    • Clinical Researcher
    • Press Releases
    • White Papers & Reports
    • ACRP Resource Centers

    Clinical Researcher—October 2025

    The October issue of Clinical Researcher focuses on “Empowering the People Behind the Processes,” offering up a collection of insights on how humans impact the inner workings of clinical trials and vice versa. We hear from a variety of professionals who delve into such areas as the attitudes of primary/urgent care providers toward trials; the importance of productive interrelationships between sponsors, CROs, and sites; the many, and often misunderstood, duties of institutional review boards; the changing role of clinical research associates in technology-driven environments; and more.

    Read October 2025 Issue

    View Archives

    The First-Ever Workforce Survey on the State of the Clinical Research Enterprise

    ACRP asked the clinical research community about changes over the past five to 10 years, the present situation, expectations for the future, and the opportunities to invest in improvements.

    Explore Insights >

     

  • Events

    In this Section

    • Events Calendar
    • ACRP Annual Conference
    • Webinars
    • Chapter Events
    • Clinical Trials Day

    Upcoming Events

    • Virginia Chapter: Pivot with Purpose – Navigating Career Transitions in Clinical Research

      December 10, 2025

    • Northern California Chapter: 2025 Holiday Networking Event

      December 10, 2025

    • New Jersey Chapter: Social Networking Holiday Event 2025

      December 10, 2025

    View All Events

    Discounted Rates for ACRP 2026

    ACRP members save $200 on their ACRP 2026 registration—or $400 when a pre-conference workshop is also selected. With a low membership fee of $160/year, you’ll immediately recoup your investment when you register for the conference.

    ACRP Membership

    Conference Registration

  • Employer Services

    In this Section

    • Employer Services
    • Team Learning
    • Team Certification
    • Verify ACRP Certification
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising & Sponsorships

    Advancing People Advancing Health™

    ACRP empowers organizations to trust that their studies are in the hands of qualified professionals​. When trained and credentialed by ACRP, clinical research teams have the competence and confidence organizations can trust to deliver excellence and maintain integrity in clinical research.​

    Learn About Employer Services >

    Organization Membership

    For organizations who need to provide their staff with on-demand access to foundational clinical research training and continuing education, ACRP Organization Membership is a turnkey and scalable solution.

    Learn More

  • About ACRP
  • Advocacy
  • My Account