Specialization, Collaboration, and Innovation in Clinical Trials
Orbis Clinical’s Learnings on the Life Sciences Conference Circuit: SCOPE 2023
The SCOPE conference is an annual event that brings together clinical operations executives in the life sciences industry. This year’s conference was especially notable as it was the first in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 2,000 attendees gathering to network and learn from industry leaders. The conference provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss current industry challenges and explore opportunities for innovation. Orbis Clinical was among the attendees and had the chance to share their knowledge and solutions with industry peers.
Key Themes for Clinical Operations Executives
Collaboration & Innovation
Collaboration and innovation were two key themes that emerged during the SCOPE conference, highlighting their critical role in improving the clinical trial industry. Collaboration involves bringing together different stakeholders to work towards a common goal, while innovation refers to developing new and improved approaches to clinical trial planning, management, and operations. These two factors lead to a range of benefits for the industry, including:
- Improving the quality of research and data representation: By collaborating with different stakeholders, clinical trial teams can incorporate a range of perspectives and expertise into their research, leading to more accurate and comprehensive data.
- Increasing the speed of drug development: Innovation can help streamline clinical trial operations, reducing the time and cost required to develop and bring critical, life-saving, or life-improving new drugs to market.
- Enhancing patient outcomes: By improving the quality and speed of clinical research, collaboration and innovation can ultimately lead to better patient treatments and outcomes.
Top-Level Talent Gaps & Retention
Another key theme discussed at the conference was the need for top talent and the challenges around retaining it.
Many attendees shared their experiences with agencies and the recruitment process. They noted that while agencies often provide numerous resumes, only a few candidates had the skills they were looking for. This can cause significant issues for clinical trial teams, particularly when working on tight timelines and budgets.
Additionally, attendees noted that agencies often prioritize quantity over quality when providing resources. This can lead to various issues, including delays in production and deliverables and increased costs for the team or company. Sorting through numerous resumes and screening unqualified candidates can be time-consuming, taking away from other critical tasks.
When resources are allocated to complete work they aren’t qualified to do; it can lead to mistakes, rework, and further delays in project timelines. In some cases, these issues are particularly pronounced in the Functional Service Provider (FSP) model, where teams rely on external resources for critical work. When unqualified candidates are hired, this can impact the quality of the work and ultimately lead to adverse outcomes for the project.
Orbis Clinical’s Unique Solutions
At Orbis Clinical, we differentiate ourselves by providing highly specialized services tailored to the life sciences industry. Our team of recruiters and business development managers specialize in core functional areas, allowing us to fully understand the specific needs of our clients and provide the right resources for them.
Orbis Clinical provides top talent specific to each unique client and job, allowing for faster screening, onboarding processes, and qualified resources engaged on projects for many years. Our customized solutions to clients are not a one-size-fits-all approach, which is why we offer tailored services such as FSP, consulting, and permanent placement. By developing a partnership with our clients, we can support them in both the short-term and long-term, leading to higher client satisfaction and successful partnerships that last for many years.
Orbis Clinical specializes in a range of core functional areas, including feasibility and study start-up, recruiting and engagement, outsourcing, clinical supply, data management, RWE (real-world evidence), biomarkers, and quality and monitoring. Our specialized knowledge and resources enable us to be great partners with our clients in each of these areas, ensuring we meet their unique challenges and needs.
By working together and embracing new approaches, stakeholders in the clinical trial industry can improve research efficiency, leading to better patient outcomes. At Orbis Clinical, we recognize the importance of collaboration and innovation in our work, which contributes to why our specialized approach to resource allocation sets us apart.
If you are interested in learning more about Orbis Clinical’s service offerings, please schedule an introductory meeting with our Business Development Team!
About the Author:
Cory Rowe is the VP of Sales for Orbis Clinical and oversees the FSP and Contracting Resource Business Development teams. Cory has over eight years of experience within Life Sciences (with another 8+ years of sales/leadership outside of Life Sciences), specializing in Biometrics and Clinical. He started his staffing career as a Recruiter, then moved into Business Development, and has been in a Leadership role for the last three and half years. He has helped build a brand about building long-lasting relationships with clients and candidates while working to help support their unique challenges. When he is not working, Cory can be found spending time with his family (his wife and two kids), out on the golf course, or watching sports.
