TBA

The CRA Role in 2026: Are We Ready for What’s Next?

The clinical research landscape is evolving faster than ever. As technology, regulations, and patient expectations shift beneath our feet, what does it mean to be a CRA in 2026? This keynote explores the emerging competencies, tools, and mindsets that will define successful monitoring in the years ahead. and challenges us to ask: are we building the skills we'll need, or just perfecting yesterday's playbook?

Oversight Today: Can RBM, AI & Humans Work Together?

AI can flag anomalies. Humans bring judgment. Risk-based monitoring promises efficiency. But can these forces actually collaborate, or are they destined to clash? This expert panel tackles the real-world tensions between automation and intuition, exploring how CRAs can leverage technology without losing the human insight that makes monitoring effective.

The Monitoring Revolution Is Here. Decentralization, Hybrid Visits & Remote Trials: What’s really changing?

Decentralized trials aren't the future; they’re happening now. But what does that actually mean for your day-to-day monitoring? This session cuts through the buzzwords to examine the practical realities of hybrid visits, remote source data verification, and monitoring patients who never set foot in a clinic.

Sponsor Expectations in 2026 – The New Expectations CRAs Need to Know

Sponsor priorities are shifting, and so are their expectations of CRAs. From data quality metrics to patient-centric approaches, this session reveals what pharmaceutical and biotech companies are demanding from monitoring teams in 2026.

Redesigning CRA Oversight – What Support Should Look Like

Good oversight empowers CRAs. Bad oversight micromanages. As monitoring models evolve, so must the way we support and supervise site monitors. This session reimagines CRA oversight for the modern era exploring mentorship models, quality metrics that matter, and how to build systems that develop talent instead of just checking boxes.

Tech vs Human Insight: Can They Coexist in Monitoring?

Algorithms can process thousands of data points instantly. Humans can read a room and sense when something's off. But can these two types of intelligence truly complement each other in clinical monitoring? This panel explores the tension between technological and human insight, and whether one will inevitably dominate the other, or if the future lies in genuine collaboration.

The Hidden Cost of Being a CRA: Burnout, Balance, and Emotional Reality

We talk about monitoring visits and data quality, but rarely about the toll this work takes on the people doing it. This candid panel discussion opens up the conversation about CRA burnout, work-life balance in a travel-heavy role, and the emotional reality of being the person in the middle. It's time to acknowledge what we all know but rarely say out loud.

Day 1 Closing Remarks

Start Strong, Stay Strong: Mastering Study Start-Up for Monitoring Success

A smooth study start-up sets the tone for everything that follows. This session breaks down the critical early phase of clinical trials, from site selection and initiation visits to building strong investigator relationships from day one. Learn the strategies that prevent common start-up pitfalls, accelerate enrollment timelines, and establish the foundation for efficient monitoring throughout the study lifecycle. Get it right at the beginning, and everything else gets easier.

CRA’s Soft Skills for Successful Studies – Boundaries, Trust & Communication

Technical knowledge gets you in the door. Soft skills keep you there, and make you exceptional. This session focuses on the interpersonal competencies that separate good CRAs from great ones: setting healthy boundaries with sites, building trust quickly, navigating difficult conversations, and communicating with clarity under pressure.

Career Growth in Clinical Research – From First Visit to Leadership

Where does a CRA go from here? This session maps out the career pathways available to Clinical Research Associates, from senior monitoring roles to study management, regulatory affairs, and beyond. Hear from an experienced professional with almost two decades in recruitment how to intentionally build the experience, skills, and network that will get you there.

Site Relationships: Managing Difficult Relationships & Turning Conflict Into Collaboration

Not every site relationship is smooth sailing. What happens when investigators resist monitoring visits? When site staff become defensive about findings? When communication breaks down and tensions rise? This unique panel brings all perspectives to the table—CROs, sponsors, and site representatives—to explore what actually builds strong, resilient partnerships. Hear honest insights from each side of the monitoring relationship and discover strategies that work across the divide to transform conflict into collaboration.

Closing Keynote: What the Future of the Industry Holds for CRAs

As we close two days of intensive discussion about where monitoring is and where it's headed, our closing keynote takes a bold look at the future. What will clinical research look like in 5 years? 10 years? Which trends will transform the industry, and which are just noise? This session synthesizes the conference themes into a compelling vision of what's coming—and how CRAs can position themselves not just to survive the changes, but to thrive in them.