SCRS Grieves the Passing of President and Founder Christine Pierre
The SCRS team is deeply saddened to share that SCRS founder and president, Christine Pierre, passed away today. Christine was diagnosed with ocular melanoma in early 2017. After surgery and receiving a positive prognosis from her doctors, she returned to life as normal – perhaps with a bit more reverence for what it means to live. In the time after her diagnosis, Christine poured herself into shaping the next generation of leadership at SCRS; she positioned the organization for a successful 2018 Global Site Solutions Summit and created a succession plan to ensure that SCRS would continue to grow and thrive. In early 2018, we learned that Christine’s cancer metastasized to her liver. She entered a number of clinical trials that afforded her more time with loved ones. Outside of her family and friends, Christine’s greatest love was the dynamic organization she built. If there is a message she wanted to instill, it is the importance of the clinical research site industry. Christine dedicated almost three decades of her life to advancing the work and voice of clinical research sites. With this passion and vision, she conceptualized the first Site Solutions Summit in 2006 and founded the Society for Clinical Research Sites in 2012.
Christine was an industry leader in the site arena and has represented the site community globally through hundreds of speaking engagements and research articles published in her name. Her contribution to furthering the sustainability of clinical research sites is unmatched. Having grown from 12 attendees to almost 1,000, the Global Site Solutions Summit is now recognized as the leading conference representing clinical research sites and is just one component of the work she has contributed to advancing clinical research. In her honor, we will continue to work and live the mission of SCRS to unite the voice of the global clinical research site community for greater site sustainability. SCRS remains in steadfast dedication to the site community so that we can continue saving lives and improving the quality of life by delivering safe and effective medications to patients faster. A memorial service will be held:
Monday, October 29, 11:00am EDT
Our Lady of the Fields
Millersville, MD Visitation with the family will take place on the following dates:
Sunday, October 28, 1:00pm – 4:00pm EDT
Beall Funeral Home
Bowie, MD Monday, October 29, 10:00am – 11:00am EDT
Our Lady of the Fields
In lieu of flowers, please make a gift in memory of Christine Pierre to support the ongoing ocular melanoma research being conducted by her doctor, Geoff Gibney, at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Information can be found on the
Lombardi Giving Page
.
Improving Relationships and Diversifying the Site Selection Process
April 17th 2025In this episode of the Applied Clinical Trials Podcast, Liz Beatty, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Inato, discusses a number of topics around site engagement including community-based sites, the role of technology in improving site/sponsor relationships, how increased operational costs are impacting the industry, and more.
Phase III SELECT-GCA Trial Results Lead to FDA Approval of Rinvoq for Giant Cell Arteritis
April 30th 2025Rinvoq (upadacitinib) becomes the first oral JAK inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of giant cell arteritis in adults, following robust data from the Phase III SELECT-GCA trial demonstrating its efficacy in achieving sustained remission and reducing glucocorticoid exposure.
Behind the Buzz: Why Clinical Research Leaders Flock to SCOPE Summit
February 7th 2025In this episode, we meet with Micah Lieberman, Executive Conference Director for SCOPE Summit (Summit for Clinical Ops Executives) at Cambridge Innovation Institute. We will dive deep into the critical role of collaboration within the clinical research ecosystem. How do we bring together diverse stakeholders—sponsors, CROs, clinical trial tech innovators, suppliers, patients, sites, advocacy organizations, investors, and non-profits—to share best practices in trial design, program planning, innovation, and clinical operations? We’ll explore why it’s vital for thought leaders to step beyond their own organizations and learn from others, exchanging ideas that drive advancements in clinical research. Additionally, we’ll discuss the pivotal role of scientific conferences like SCOPE Summit in fostering these essential connections and collaborations, helping shape the future of clinical trials. Join us as we uncover how collective wisdom and cross-industry partnerships are transforming the landscape of clinical research.
