Blog

The clinical research enterprise shapes the medicine of today and tomorrow, serving all people through meaningful collaboration. However, we cannot achieve impactful outcomes without buy-in from all of its stakeholders, whether as caregivers, personal advocates, healthcare professionals, clinical research professionals, industry partners, or participants. 

Just over a year ago a small team from ACRP and Continuum Clinical got together to discuss developing a new survey of the clinical trial community. I remember that meeting well, because we were all very excited about the idea. We had just one challenge we couldn’t quite figure out. One small question: Why?

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.