Responsible, Human-Centered AI: The Future of Clinical Research Roles

This interactive discussion will deliver a practical, human‑centered look at responsible AI adoption in clinical research and what it means for today’s workforce. Panelists will explore why integrating AI requires rethinking workflows, decision‑making processes, and ethical safeguards—not simply adding technology to existing models of work.

The speakers will share their experiences as to where human judgment remains essential and how organizations are approaching bias, regulatory alignment, and responsible innovation. They’ll also illustrate how AI‑enabled patient trial matching challenged traditional site activation models, shifted collaboration and team roles, and delivered early indicators of success.

We’ll conclude with guidance on how clinical research professionals can prepare for an AI‑driven future—including the skills, mindsets, and change‑management readiness needed to support responsible adoption while maintaining participant protections and trial integrity.

Upon completion of this continuing education program, participants should be able to:

1. Describe how AI is reshaping clinical research workflows and identify where human judgment, ethical safeguards, and regulatory expectations remain essential.
2. Summarize key insights from an AI‑enabled trial‑matching case study to understand how AI can influence collaboration, site activation models, and early indicators of operational success.
3. Identify the skills, mindsets, and organizational practices clinical research professionals need to prepare for responsible, effective use of AI in research settings.

Speakers:

Noelle Gaskill, MBA, ACRP-CP
Vice President, GM Tempus TIME Network
Tempus AI

Noelle Gaskill is a research executive with over 25 years of experience spanning across the industry form sites to biotech. In her tenure of leading large-scale research organizations, she successfully deployed novel just in time recruitment models, patient matching powered by AI and has developed site technology – all with the purpose of reducing the burden on the site. Today she leads Tempus TIME Network – a perfect fit for her personal motivator of providing novel therapeutics to all patients close to home.

Jennifer Sheller, MPH, ACRP-CP
Senior Vice President and Head, Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), Merck

Jennifer brings more than 25 years of experience in clinical trial operations to drive impactful advancements in healthcare. Since joining Merck in 2017, she’s held various leadership roles including associate vice president and regional head of GCTO North America, associate vice present and head of monitoring excellence, trial diversity and site development/engagement and vice president and head of clinical sites, data management and quality.

Susan P. Landis (Moderator)
Chief Executive Officer, ACRP

Susan brings to ACRP more than 25 years of experience in organizational leadership, including as Vice President, Quintiles, where she helped build and lead a global clinical research engagement group. Most recently, Landis served for six years as Head of Strategic Engagement & Communications at Duke Clinical Research Institute, where she led external and internal marketing for the world’s largest academic research organization.