This week, Teckro Program Director Brian Deighan joins the podcast to talk about how sponsors are using Teckro to better engage their research sites. Brian explains how innovative approaches in sponsor communication improve relationships with investigators and discusses how surveys are an underutilized tool for sponsors to understand their sites. “Email chains for information can get lost, items can get misunderstood, or things may be taken out of context. Teckro and our survey functionality all...
May 31, 2023•10 min•Ep. 70
This week, Lexitas Pharma Services ' George Magrath joins the podcast to discuss his unique dual perspective on patient care as both a CEO and a physician. George shares how his double role gives him a better understanding of patient needs and helps Lexitas to stand out in a competitive market. “I love taking care of patients. It's really quite a privilege and quite an honor to be able to do that. I think it keeps me really grounded with the purpose of what I'm doing, which is trying to advance ...
May 30, 2023•25 min•Ep. 69
In this episode, freelance medical translator Ana Sofia Correia joins us to discuss the need for translation in clinical trials. She explains the risks if clinical trial material is biased towards English-speaking populations and the need for cultural sensitivity when translating content into local languages. Ana Sofia also reflects on the benefits AI could have on the industry and for translators. “While AI can be a powerful tool, it cannot replace human translators because there are still many...
May 28, 2023•17 min•Ep. 68
Frances Reid , program director at the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is back with an update on the Every Woman Study, the first of its kind to quantify global challenges women face with diagnosis and care access for ovarian cancer. Building on the survey's success, Frances explains how they have pivoted from online to other data capture methods with the help of healthcare providers in some of the most remote settings in the world. The stories she shares give us a glimpse into the incredible cha...
May 05, 2023•23 min•Ep. 67
This episode we have something a little bit different as we talk with Karl McGrory , director of Europe at One Tree Planted . As an international nonprofit focused on reforestation, One Tree Planted has garnered widespread support from many sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry. Teckro has partnered with One Tree Planted and contributed to a project in Ireland, home to our HQ. Karl talks about Ireland’s significant deforestation over the centuries and upcoming projects they have around ...
Apr 20, 2023•22 min•Ep. 66
What risks pose the greatest threats to clinical research? This week, Jeanne Hecht of JTH Consulting joins us to answer this very question. During this episode, Jeanne talks about some of the current risks facing the life sciences industry and her concern about what the workforce shortage means to clinical research. Jeanne puts out a challenge to the industry to adopt a new mindset and think out of the box to attract talent in clinical research. “I think it’s a challenge to each and every one of...
Mar 24, 2023•19 min•Ep. 65
Have you ever had a chance encounter that changed the course of your life? That’s what happened to Danielle Mitchell , CEO of Black Women in Clinical Research . She discovered clinical research as a career path during a conversation at a pool party. After landing a clinical research coordinator role, she noticed the stark lack of diversity among staff. Since then, Danielle has been on a mission to educate and empower Black women to succeed in the industry. “A lot of times when I talk to my membe...
Mar 16, 2023•16 min•Ep. 64
This week Dr. Martine Dehlinger-Kremer , vice president, scientific affairs, pediatric subject matter expert at ICON, joins us for a deep dive into the inclusion of adolescents in clinical trials. Martine talks us through the considerations for including adolescents in adult clinical trials and how to overcome potential challenges. She also highlights disease areas where the inclusion of adolescents in adult trials has proved successful and why she is optimistic for the future. “Trial sponsors, ...
Mar 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 63
This week we’re joined by former CRA Maria Milas and site advocate Silvina Baudino to discuss how to make investigator meetings (IMs) more exciting. Attending an IM can mean endless PowerPoint presentations and days of repetitive meetings – but there is a better way. Maria and Silvina explain how by recasting the agenda for greater interaction, attendees will be more engaged and retain more about the study. “It was four intense days of meetings of trainings, of talks from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every ...
Feb 16, 2023•25 min•Ep. 62
Phase I oncology trials play a crucial role in drug development, yet they are extremely challenging for sites. To discuss this in greater detail, we’re joined by Dan Otap , principal, alliance and partnerships lead at Genentech , and Jenn Weinberg, a veteran in oncology clinical trials. During the podcast, they delve into why early-stage oncology trials are so complex and ways to ease the burden on sites. “There's a level of safety and concern and risk that separates and creates a very distinct ...
Feb 03, 2023•25 min•Ep. 61
Ashley Margo , founder of the The Clinical Research Circle , along with Teckro’s Maria Milas , join us to discuss clinical research associate burnout. Earlier this year, they explained how CRA burnout is negatively affecting the industry. In this follow-up episode, they highlight solutions to reduce pressure and increase job satisfaction. “If you provide them with a tool that will suit their needs, their pains and their challenges will be just covered and fulfilled. So, what better than having a...
Jan 26, 2023•25 min•Ep. 60
When Writer Ira Feinstein was diagnosed with the BRCA1 breast cancer gene at just 20 years old, he was determined to learn everything he could about genetic research. Nearly a decade later, a landmark study led Ira to get a mastectomy and hysterectomy. During this podcast, Ira describes his unique patient journey, elaborating on the pitfalls of navigating the medical system as a trans man. “I looked at my medical records because I was moving from one cardiologist to another, and I noticed that t...
Jan 19, 2023•17 min•Ep. 59
This week we welcome Perla Nunes , community outreach director at Greater Gift . Ecuadorian-born Perla is passionate about diversity – with specific focus on the Hispanic community. During this episode, she explains how Greater Gift is encouraging a new generation of leaders from diverse backgrounds through its scholarship program and why bilingual staff are key to build trust among patients. “I always ask if studies are offered in Spanish. The response I always get is, 'yes, everything has been...
Jan 12, 2023•21 min•Ep. 58
This week, Ashley Margo , remote site monitor and founder of The Clinical Research Circle along with Teckro’s Maria Milas , a former CRA, join the podcast to explain the impact of burnout on the clinical trial industry. Ashley and Maria talk about the problems presented with high CRA turnover and how this hinders site engagement and relationships. “If you get new CRAs on a regular basis on a study, it's going to be harder for the sponsor to create a relationship with the sites because the CRA is...
Jan 04, 2023•23 min•Ep. 57
This week on the Totally Clinical podcast we’ve something rather special for the holiday season. But first, are you sitting comfortably? Draw the curtains, light a crackling fire and settle back to enjoy a nostalgic festive story with a Teckro twist – from our very own Chief Medical Officer Brendan Buckley… "A long grueling day and a tiring shift, but Teckro was ready – this was our gift. A spring in our step, not a moment to lose, this was the time for excellent news..."...
Dec 15, 2022•4 min•Ep. 56
This week, we’re joined by David Grew , a radiation oncologist and the founder of PRIMR – a platform that creates simple, illustrated videos to educate patients about cancer and clinical trials. During the podcast, David explains why he is transforming his “slapdash sketches” into video content and the power of video to help physicians communicate complex topics. “I said, 'Well, maybe I should just start converting these paper drawings into video assets so that we can kind of standardize this ed...
Nov 30, 2022•18 min•Ep. 55
Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in their late twenties, Stewart O’Callaghan was determined to make a difference for others. After the complexity of navigating the healthcare system as an LGBTQ+ patient, Stewart set up Live Through This , the UK’s only charity that supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ people affected by cancer. Stewart discusses hopes and ambitions for the future and explains why people shouldn’t fear “getting it wrong.” “There is a willingness to change, but a fear of getting ...
Nov 24, 2022•19 min•Ep. 54
This week we host Roman Fishchuk , physician and principal investigator based in western Ukraine. Joining us moments after returning from an air raid shelter, Roman discusses life for the average person in Ukraine right now. He also describes keeping clinical trials going in a country at war and how Teckro becomes of even greater value in times of disruption. “We are really encouraging companies to come to, to resume their work in Ukraine, because right now, clinical trials are needed here more ...
Nov 10, 2022•21 min•Ep. 53
This week, Craig Lipset , advisor and founder at Clinical Innovation Partners, joins the podcast for a look into the future. Craig explains why he is optimistic for decentralized and hybrid models, considerations for more physicians to participate and the support the broader clinical trial ecosystem will need to ensure compliance and safety of clinical trials. “If decentralized can let us enable a visit to take place at home or in a pharmacy, how can decentralized enable us to host those study v...
Nov 03, 2022•23 min•Ep. 52
When we first launched Totally Clinical: Trial Triumphs & Rad Trends as an industry podcast, we weren’t sure what to expect. Now, with a wealth of amazing guests, a catalog of compelling discussions, and a pipeline of big ideas - we can proudly say it's a hit! To celebrate 50 episodes in less than a year, host Hannah Lippitt and producer Conor Bryce sit down to discuss the journey so far. From pre-launch nerves to favorite episodes (too many to count!), take a peek behind the curtain with us...
Oct 26, 2022•12 min•Ep. 51
This week, we celebrate an exciting milestone as Totally Clinical hits its 50th episode. In the spirit of Teckro’s core values: be responsive, do the right thing, and make an impact, CEO Gary Hughes joins us to discuss the issues that really matter. During the podcast, Gary explains how Teckro’s One Tree Planted partnership supports biodiversity and the parallels with diversity and inclusion in clinical research. “I see a lot of parallels between what we're doing with One Tree Planted, their goa...
Oct 21, 2022•17 min•Ep. 50
Jimmy Bechtel , vice president of site engagement at the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS), joins the podcast ahead of the flagship annual Global Site Solutions Summit in Florida. As SCRS marks its 10th anniversary, Jimmy reflects on milestones and accomplishments, including how SCRS is leading from the front on clinical trial diversity. Jimmy also shares his thoughts on the challenges that lie ahead. “We were one of the first organizations to recognize the need that was coming out of c...
Oct 06, 2022•13 min•Ep. 49
Aaron Mann , co-founder of the Clinical Research Data Sharing Alliance (CRDSA), joins the podcast to discuss the importance of unleashing the power of clinical research data. Aaron explains why he’s optimistic about the potential of data sharing among sponsors to revolutionize trial design and improve patient recruitment – and why he believes patients really want their data to be shared. "The question that CRDSA is really involved with is what happens after the trial? We know patients want their...
Sep 23, 2022•18 min•Ep. 48
What if biopharma companies worked together to improve clinical trials for everyone? This is the vision of Virginia Nido – Roche’s global head of industry collaboration. During this episode, Virginia explains how pre-competitive collaboration can address systemic challenges common to the industry and how to persuade big pharma companies to work together. “So, many of the collaborations that we participate in – as Roche and Genentech – are looking at things that we've always wanted to fix, sort o...
Sep 08, 2022•13 min•Ep. 47
We hear a lot about clinical trials and inclusion, but there is one group being left out of the conversation: sites. Affinity Health Chief Strategy Officer Bill Taaffe and Teckro’s very own Brendan Buckley share what’s really going on with sites. As a founding member of ICON who now works for a site, Bill shares his surprise at how little sites have input into clinical trial design and operations. The old friends cover a range of topics, including a site view on decentralized trials, site techno...
Sep 02, 2022•28 min•Ep. 46
How does the word “innovation” make you feel? Change can be scary, but opportunity lies in the new and unknown. Clinical trial innovation consultant Tom Julian joins Teckro’s Global Head of Strategy Malia Lewin to discuss the advantages and complexities of clinical trial innovation. The pair explain why the industry needs to be agile, adaptable and open to change – truly using the power of innovation to revolutionize the patient experience. “We need to focus on both the really simple things as w...
Aug 24, 2022•13 min•Ep. 45
Clinical research is a conservative industry, but one man is using social media to shake things up. Brad Hightower , CEO of Hightower Clinical, is leveraging LinkedIn to prompt open – sometimes difficult – conversations between sites and sponsors. During this podcast, Brad discusses his desire to give sites an online voice and his hopes for greater industrywide progress. “I think it's important to continue to have these conversations in a very open and transparent manner. I think if we want to p...
Aug 16, 2022•17 min•Ep. 44
What can we do to tackle the workforce shortage in clinical research? This episode Judy Galindo and Monica Cuitiva , co-founders of Latinos in Clinical Research , join us to examine the potential solutions. During the podcast, the pair explain why education plays a pivotal role in raising awareness of the industry’s potential, why sponsors, sites and CROs need to hire more entry-level staff, and emphasize the urgency for more resources to help train and retain staff. "Online trainings are excell...
Aug 09, 2022•20 min•Ep. 43
What is the role of bioethics in medical decision-making? Here to explain more about this fascinating topic is Katrina Bramstedt , global head of bioethics at Roche. During this episode of the Totally Clinical podcast, Katrina discusses the crucial role bioethics has in the industry, why she believes every pharmaceutical company should have a bioethics department – and expands on how bioethics can support patient centricity. "Patient centricity is very much connected to bioethics because we want...
Aug 03, 2022•13 min•Ep. 42
This week Robbyn Mattei , co-founder and director of Alpha Trials joins the Totally Clinical podcast from South Africa. Robbyn shares his insight into the developing clinical research landscape in the region and is passionate about increasing the viability of clinical trials in South Africa. "In developing countries like South Africa, infrastructure and funding is severely limited, and this means we have fewer facilities that can accommodate clinical trials."...
Jul 22, 2022•14 min•Ep. 41
