The Parexel Podcast

Beyond the Binary: Navigating Gender Diversity in Clinical Research

There are an estimated 1.6 million transgender people in the U.S. alone, with about 25% identifying as nonbinary. However, based on our research for the Beyond the Binary: Navigating Gender Diversity in Clinical Research report, we found that of the 141,000+ articles published on PubMed (a database of biomedical and life sciences literature) reporting interventional clinical trial results from 2018-2022, fewer than 1% reported study participation of transgender and nonbinary patients. We then set out to determine why this patient population is not being accurately represented in clinical research.     

In this episode, Parexel subject matter experts – Rosamund Round, Vice President, Patient Engagement Center; Liam Paschall, Senior Consultant, Management Development; Amy McKee, M.D., Chief Medical Officer & Global Head, Oncology Center of Excellence – discuss the barriers faced by the transgender and nonbinary communities and provide recommendations for more gender-inclusive clinical trials.  

To view the Discussions on Diversity report, click here.  

 

 

Why Rare Disease Therapeutics Need Early Market Access Planning

When developing and bringing a therapeutic for a rare disease to market, sponsors should think with the end in mind and plan for payer requirements early in protocol design. The economic and clinical value evidence required by payers for market access differs from the clinical efficacy and safety evidence demanded by regulators. Securing approval but lacking market access results in unrealized revenue and, most importantly, patients left untreated. But how do we price and how do we gain access on the promise of long-term value when we don’t have the long-term data?

In this podcast by Blog Talk Radio, Sangeeta Budhia, VP and Global Head, Pricing and Market Access, and Wyatt Gotbetter, Worldwide Head, Access Consulting, of Parexel discuss early market access planning, including inclusive data collection, payer models and the impact of new regulations and innovative trial design on data collection and ongoing evidence provision.

CROs and Their Role for Nano-rare

In this episode on n-Lorem Foundation’s podcast series, Patient Empowerment Program, our CEO Jamie Macdonald interviews with Dr. Stanley T. Crooke, Founder, CEO and Chairman of n-Lorem Foundation. During their conversation, Jamie shares the moment he realized his desire to make a difference, Parexel’s role in clinical trials and our partnership with n-Lorem aimed to serve patients.

RBQM Podcast Series | Episode 4: Three ways to de-risk your DCT implementation

Much like RBQM, decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are an approach to conducting clinical trials, interacting with patients and sites, and implementing fit for purpose technologies for the collection and capture of critical data and monitoring patient safety.  The overall objective of DCTs is the facilitation is to lessen the patient burden of patients and sites, therefore increasing patient participation, while ensuring the collection and capture of critical data, such as efficacy endpoints and safety data. 

 

In the fourth episode of the RBQM podcast series, Amy Adams, Senior Director, Clinical Operations and Cris McDavid, Director, Clinical Operations discuss some questions to ask when developing a risk-based framework for decentralized clinical trials.

Careers at Parexel — FSP Podcast Series | Episode 2: Celebrating a 25-Year Career with Kerri McCaul-Claus

At Parexel, we are committed to improving patients’ lives through clinical research. Within Parexel FSP — a division of Parexel — we fulfill key clinical development roles through functional service outsourcing models across a variety of disciplines for leading pharmaceutical sponsors.

To explore a Parexel FSP employee advancement journey, Host Mrs. Jan Back, Recruitment Marketing Manager, Parexel FSP, is joined by Kerri McCaul Claus, Vice President, FSP Solutions Biometrics. Kerri has held various roles during her 25-year career. Today we delve into her career development and subsequent advancement to become a Vice President within the organization.

Key Takeaways:
[1:11] Kerri shares her career pathway at Parexel FSP including the multiple opportunities that led to her role as VP of FSP Solutions Biometrics.
[4:30] Leading the dedicated client support teams offers insights into the key differences in how FSP supports clients and the full-service model.
[5:32] Kerri attributes the ongoing learning opportunities in her various roles as the lens that allows her to see the full scope of FSP’s bigger picture.
[6:59] In Kerri’s pursuit to grow the business, a key factor of the FSP team’s success is taking every step forward from a client’s perspective.
[8:05] Kerri expresses how Parexel’s guiding principles of patience, quality, respect, empowerment, and accountability assist dedicated FSP team members in contributing to positive client outcomes.
[9:44] Kerri shares the long-term growth and development
opportunities that exist at Parexel FSP for career seekers and the flexible environment in which they can expect to work.
[12:06] With 25 years of experience, Kerri still appreciates the dynamic career opportunities and the support she receives from the leadership team at Parexel.
[13:37] With regard to career development, Parexel believes
individuals have the opportunity to craft the type of career they want for themselves.

How to find out more:
Explore: Parexel’s Functional Service Provider Career Website

Careers at Parexel — FSP Podcast Series | Episode 1: Get Recruited to Be a Clinical Research Associate: The Benefits of Parexel’s FSP Program

At Parexel, we are committed to improving patient’s lives through clinical research. Within Parexel FSP — a division of Parexel — we fulfill key clinical development roles through functional service outsourcing models across a variety of disciplines for leading pharmaceutical sponsors. This includes finding the best candidates for vitally important CRA positions.

To explore how Parexel FSP meets sponsor needs while creating rewarding career opportunities for talented clinical research professionals, Host Mrs. Jan Back, Recruitment Marketing Manager, Parexel FSP, speaks with Nannette Penny, Director, FSP Operations, and Alex Raines, Senior Executive Clinical Recruiter. The trio discuss how working for an FSP client differs from supporting a full-service client engagement, how the recruitment process works at Parexel FSP, the current career opportunities available for CRAs, and resources available to candidates interested in building an impactful career with a better quality of life.

Key Takeaways:

[:51] In her role as Director, Nannette oversees all recruitment and sourcing activities for a key client.

[2:34] In his role as a Senior Executive Recruiter, Alex is responsible for finding, interviewing, and extending offers to candidates.

[3:44] Nannette explains how the FSP model differs from full-service client engagement from a candidate’s perspective.

[5:50] Roles and responsibilities of a CRA in FSP on a typical day.

[7:33] In the clinical research global landscape, a mismatch exists in available talent and the current increased demand for CRAs.

[9:18] Alex shares the characteristics he looks for when seeking out CRA candidates.

[10:38] The benefits and opportunities available when working with Parexel in an FSP.

[11:59] Current CRA positions available and common contract terms.

[13:40] How candidates can contact a Clinical Recruiter at Parexel FSP.

[14:23] Nannette and Alex share their first-hand employee feedback about working at Parexel FSP.

How to find out more:

Visit: Parexel’s Functional Service Provider Career Website

Connect with: Alex Raines on LinkedIn

Explore: Current CRA positions available at Parexel

The Parexel Podcast | Episode 20: Driving change in Cell & Gene Therapies: Key learnings from the SITC Virtual Summit

Chris Learn, Head of Cell and Gene Center of Excellent at Parexel, discusses his participation at the recent Clinical Research Virtual Summit hosted by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and the implications for clinical research.

Decentrally Speaking | Episode 3: Integrating the Patient Voice into Decentralized Trials

In this third episode of the Decentrally Speaking series, we explore the topic of Integrating the Patient Voice into Decentralized Trials. Join our guests from AstraZeneca, who partnered with Parexel to deploy a fully virtual clinical trial. We’ll learn how the team incorporated the patient voice within trial planning and execution, some of the innovative approaches used in the trial, and lessons learned to take forward into future trial design.

• Rosamund Round, Vice President, Patient Innovation Center, Parexel, one of the world’s leading global clinical research organizations (CRO).
• Evelina Björnsson, Senior Director, Study Management, AstraZeneca, is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines.
• Karin Enarsson Ringqvist, Global Study Director, AstraZeneca, is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines.

 

RBQM Podcast Series | Episode 3: Staying within the Guardrails: How to Push the Boundaries in a Highly Regulated Industry

By designing quality into trials, we focus on the most critical data and create a framework for efficiently identifying and addressing any risks to patients, the integrity of data, or regulatory compliance. While part of regulatory guidance, consistent interpretation of RBQM approaches by regulatory inspectors is an area of concern. In such a highly regulated industry that is notably slow to adopt change, biopharmaceutical companies and CROs are still debating how to go with evidence-backed documentation to satisfy regulatory requirements when using risk-based approaches.

In the third episode of our RBQM podcast series, Amy Kissam-Sands, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations, John Bell, Chief Quality Officer, and Dr. Kristin Murphy, Senior Director and Global Head of the Change and Adoption Center of Excellence, discuss how to work within the regulatory guardrails when establishing a risk assessment framework.

Decentrally Speaking | Episode 2: The Shifting Roles of Pharmaceutical Depots within a Decentralized Trial Environment

In this second episode in the Decentrally Speaking series, we will be discussing how pharmaceutical depots are evolving their services and operations to support both sites and patients as a critical part of decentralized trials (DCTs). Expanding geographies, ancillary procurement, and storage of investigational drugs and supplies to be shipped either direct to patient or direct to site create a complex supply chain that must be carefully managed and controlled.

Join our Parexel clinical trial supplies and logistics experts who share their collective experience to ensure the right mix of solutions for conducting decentralized trials to benefit sponsors, sites, and patients within a complicated and evolving regulatory environment.

• Sanjay Vyas, Executive Vice President And Global Strategic Business Unit, Head For Clinical Trial Supplies And Logistics
• Laurie McRae, Senior Director, Solutions for Clinical Trial Supplies and Logistics
• Daniel Meyer, Project Manager Leader, Supply and Logistics

Our Decentrally Speaking series engages with subject matter experts and thought leaders on expanding clinical access for patients through the use of decentralized trials. Join us as we also explore opportunities to operationalize DCTs across our industry.