Running a clinical trial can feel a lot like going into battle. Planning a clinical trial is fraught with complex series of obstacles and potential pitfalls that must be expertly maneuvered to achieve victory. Along the way there are key decisions that must be made and a heck of a lot of strategy involved. Being involved in the thick of a clinical trial can leave you battered and bruised; it can be a long and tiring process. So how do you make it through the battle unscathed? Much like modern day warfare, modern day clinical trials necessitate a whole new approach.

Historically, battles were fought with huge armies lined up in a field, attacking one another with weapons of varying accuracy, with the end result being lots of casualties along the way. Over the years, there has been a dramatic shift in this approach, with more battles relying on strategy and guerrilla warfare. Small, specialized teams now carry out stealth attacks, and advances in technology have paved the way for new means of achieving the desired end goal. The modern-day warrior is smart, savvy, and strategic. Long gone are the days of huge armies, cannons, and a conventional battlefield.  

Just as there has been a shift in the way wars are won, there has been a shift in how clinical trials are run. The way huge CROs run clinical trials looks a lot like the old days of war. Large teams are assembled to run a clinical trial, and every study is treated with the same approach – “let’s throw more people at this mission.” This result is a cumbersome chain of command, lots of overhead cost, and varying levels of success.  COSTLY!