In this episode of Innovating Clinical Trials, Liam and Ted challenge a familiar question in clinical research: “How do we increase enrollment?” Instead, they argue that progress starts by asking a better one- “What makes enrollment challenging in the first place?”

They explore how study design, existing therapies, operational factors, and most importantly, the lived experience of participants and their families all shape recruitment outcomes. Ted shares a practical framework for slowing down, asking deeper questions, and creating space for ideas that don’t emerge when teams jump straight to solutions.

Tune in to learn how reframing the problem can unlock more meaningful, effective approaches to enrollment.

In this episode of Innovating Clinical Trials, Liam and Ted explore why clinical research is, at its core, a people-driven business. Drawing on real-world experiences from both patient and site perspectives, they discuss how trust, communication, and human connection directly influence recruitment, retention, and study success.

From participant consent conversations to site selection and prioritization, the discussion highlights how “soft skills” often have a measurable impact on trial performance, yet are frequently overlooked in favor of technical experience alone.

Liam and Ted reflect on how small moments of empathy, transparency, and genuine engagement can transform transactional interactions into long-term partnerships.

Tune in to understand why focusing on people not just processes can dramatically improve how trials are delivered.

Welcome to Innovating Clinical Trials, the podcast designed for clinical research professionals eager to deepen their understanding of clinical trials through concise, insightful segments.

Join your hosts, Liam Eves and Ted Trafford, as they uncover the core issues in clinical research, reflect on the industry, and challenge conventional wisdom.

In this episode, Liam and Ted reveal how minor, unexpected requests often snowball into a significant site burden. They dive into why scope creep occurs, how sites can respond, and what sponsors can do to prevent it before it disrupts a study.

Welcome to Innovating Clinical Trials, the podcast designed for clinical research professionals eager to deepen their understanding of clinical trials through concise, insightful segments.

Join your hosts, Liam Eves and Ted Trafford, as they uncover the core issues in clinical research, reflect on the industry, and challenge conventional wisdom.

In this episode, Liam and Ted explore what it truly means to be a sponsor of choice for clinical trial sites. They discuss how communication gaps between sponsors, CROs, and sites can slow progress, and hinder recruitment. They offer practical steps for improving communication in both directions for creating a more collaborative environment.

Welcome to Innovating Clinical Trials, the podcast designed for clinical research professionals eager to deepen their understanding of clinical trials through concise, insightful segments.

Join your hosts, Liam Eves and Ted Trafford, as they uncover the core issues in clinical research, reflect on the industry, and challenge conventional wisdom.

Season 2 kicks off with Liam and Ted exploring what it means to be a “Sponsor of Choice.” Through thoughtful analogies and real-world insights. They explore why the “sweet spot” for feedback is just after a site enrolls its second or third participant when motivation, momentum, and study experience intersect.

Tune in to discover the small shifts that can lead to gains in study outcomes.

Welcome to Innovating Clinical Trials, the podcast where Liam and Ted explore the evolving landscape of clinical research and challenge the assumptions holding it back. In this episode, we sit down with Maya Zlatanova — CEO of TrialHub and FindMeCure, and host of Trials with Maya Z — for a no-nonsense look at one of the most misunderstood concepts in research: feasibility.

Episode Overview:

Maya takes us deep into the hidden layers of clinical trial feasibility, arguing that what most of the industry calls "feasibility" is really just site contracting in disguise. Instead, she introduces a broader, patient-aligned view that incorporates standard of care, access, and real-world motivation. We discuss:

How clinical trials often fail because they ignore the healthcare systems patients actually live in

Why standard of care varies country to country — and how that affects recruitment and retention

The painful disconnect between pharma’s incentives and patients’ reality

Why relying on investigators alone leads to blind spots

How AI and emerging tech can streamline feasibility, but only if paired with real-world insight

And why hope, as Maya bluntly reminds us, is not a strategy

This is an unflinching and inspiring conversation about why better feasibility planning isn’t just a project task — it’s the foundation for better trials, faster development, and ultimately, better care.

Welcome to the Innovating Clinical Trials podcast, where we explore the evolving landscape of clinical research.

In this episode, hosts Liam Eves and Ted Trafford sit down with Jill Pellegrino, CEO of AutoCruitment, to explore the future of patient enrollment in clinical trials. With a background spanning leadership roles at CVS Health, PPD, and Accelerated Enrollment Solutions, Jill brings deep expertise in leveraging technology and data-driven strategies to improve recruitment efficiency.

Jill shares how AutoCruitment direct-to-patient approach is expanding access to clinical trials beyond traditional site networks, tackling the industry’s biggest challenge—low enrollment rates. She breaks down the power of digital advertising, predictive modeling, and real-time data tracking in optimizing recruitment funnels, as well as the critical role of trust-building and site support in ensuring patients follow through with participation.

This episode dives into why the clinical trial industry continues to struggle with recruitment, how sponsors can rethink feasibility and budgeting for better enrollment outcomes, and why patient-centric solutions are the key to the future of clinical research and much more.

If you’re looking to stay ahead in patient recruitment and trial optimization, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Welcome to the Innovating Clinical Trials podcast, where we explore the evolving landscape of clinical research. In this episode, hosts Liam Eves and Ted Trafford continue the conversation with clinical trial feasibility expert Nick Palumbo to examine why feasibility is much more than just site selection—and how rethinking the process can drive better enrollment and study success.

Nick shares his insights on the broader role of feasibility, from protocol optimization to enrollment modeling, and the critical need for strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. He also highlights why personalized site engagement—not mass emails—is essential to fostering collaboration and improving trial outcomes.

This episode takes a candid look at persistent industry challenges, including the long-standing failure of 80% of studies to meet enrollment goals, and explores how re-evaluating feasibility practices could be a key part of the solution. If you want to understand how feasibility can be leveraged as a strategic advantage in clinical trials, this discussion is for you.