Clinical Research Professionals Make Record Donation to Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation

ELLICOTT CITY, Md., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The more than 300 clinical research professionals that attended the 2010 Site Solutions Summit this past weekend reached into their pockets and donated more than $7,000 to support CISCRP in their mission to educate the general public about clinical research. Their individual donations were then matched by RxTrials, Inc., co-host of the Summit, for a grand total of $14,074.

The monies raised will support the education, awareness and information campaigns conducted by the Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP). Christine Pierre, president of RxTrials, spearheaded the fundraising effort at the Summit. A similar effort was conducted at the 2009 Summit, where more than $5,000 was donated.

"CISCRP is so thankful for the generous donations made by those attending RxTrials' Site Solutions Summit," said Ken Getz, CISCRP founder and board chair. "It is because of the help provided by these clinical research professionals that CISCRP is able to carry out its mission. Together, we are able to address the long-standing need to raise public awareness and increase understanding and trust of the clinical research enterprise. We acknowledge Christine Pierre's role in bringing this fundraising initiative to fruition and we are honored to receive the Summit's support."

The annual Site Solutions Summit brings together leaders from the continuum of the clinical research process, including research site executives and professionals, executives from Sponsors and CROs, and other senior-level industry representatives. In a collaborative setting, these stakeholders tackle the business challenges they face and identify best practices to meet those challenges.

"As an industry, we recognize how crucial it is for the public to have a greater understanding of the clinical research process first and then to consider participation in a fully informed manner; this is CISCRP's mission," Pierre said. "It only makes sense that we, as the leading voices of clinical research sites, and others committed to clinical research would support this effort."

A CenterWatch survey shows that 94% of people recognize the importance of participating in clinical research in order to assist in the advancement of medical science. Yet, 75% of the general public says they have little or no knowledge about the clinical research participation process. A Harris Interactive survey of cancer patients found that 85% of them were either unaware or unsure at the time of their diagnosis that participation in clinical research studies was an option. Of those, 75% said they would have been willing to enroll had they known it was possible.

CISCRP's mission is to promote greater awareness and understanding of clinical research participation and the role that it plays in public health.

About RxTrials, Inc.

RxTrials is a network of premier investigative sites that conduct Phase II through Phase IV and vaccine clinical research studies, based in physician practices, clinics and hospitals. Since 1994, RxTrials has successfully completed more than 1,000 studies and is a strategic partner with leading Sponsors and CROs. RxTrials Institute, a sister company of RxTrials, provides professional training, education and consultation, and sponsors the annual Site Solutions Summit. More information can be found at www.rxtrialsinc.com or www.sitesolutionssummit.com.

About CISCRP

Founded in 2003, The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and informing the public, patients, medical/research communities, the media, and policy makers about clinical research participation and the role that each party plays as a participant in the process. CISCRP's staff and board of advisors have highly diverse backgrounds - from the clinical research, healthcare and advocacy communities. CISCRP's funding comes from a wide variety of sources including individual donors, government and research institutions, foundations and corporations.

SOURCE RxTrials