SCRS Talks

In this episode, Jimmy Bechtel sits down with KimberLee Heidmann, Executive Vice President of Quality and Regulatory at Scout, to discuss the financial and administrative challenges clinical research sites face when managing patient payments and reimbursements. They explore how cash flow gaps impact site operations, why sites are adding overhead fees to contracts, and the burden of unexpected participant costs. KimberLee shares practical insights on how service providers like Scout can remove these pressures by handling logistics and payment services directly, allowing sites to focus their time and resources on what they do best: conducting trials and caring for patients. This conversation offers a fresh perspective on streamlining site operations and improving the trial ecosystem for everyone involved.

Sustainability in clinical research does not have to be overwhelming. In this episode of SCRS Talks, Lauren Stockwell is joined by Paula Underhill of PPD part of Thermo Fisher Scientific and Clare Grace, CEO of EMS Healthcare and the 2025 Excellence in Site Sustainability Award recipient. Claire walks through the concrete changes EMS implemented across its mobile unit model, including solar integration, employee-led sustainability committees, and science-based targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. Paula adds context on what the judging panel found compelling and how CROs can serve as true sustainability partners rather than just cheerleaders. Whether your site is just getting started or well on its way, this conversation will leave you with a clear message: start small, start now.

Jimmy Bechtel sits down with Jeff Zucker, Chief Development Officer, and Brandon Lenfest, Regional Director at Tekton Research, to dig into what makes CNS and neuroscience trials uniquely challenging for sites. They cover why patient identification in this space requires a completely different approach, the often overlooked but critical role caregivers play, and what sites can do to keep patients engaged through the full length of a study. Jeff and Brandon also get into the balancing act of providing empathetic care while managing placebo response, and share practical advice for sites considering making the move into CNS research for the first time.

Dana Kudrnova from Novotech shares proven strategies to accelerate study startup by overcoming regulatory and administrative bottlenecks. Learn how data-driven KPIs, mandatory templates, and unified technology transform unpredictable timelines into streamlined milestones. Dana emphasizes that while AI provides speed, active ownership and human oversight are what truly prevent document delays. This episode highlights why proactive communication between CRAs and sites is the secret to surfacing issues early and moving from site selection to first patient dosed more efficiently.

Jimmy Bechtel talks with Darcy Forman, COO of Lightship, about how hybrid site models can reduce operational risk in clinical trials. They discuss matching visit types to the right setting (clinic, home, or mobile), lessons learned from the pandemic's rapid shift to decentralized trials, and how to maintain strong investigator oversight across different delivery models. Darcy shares practical insights on what it takes to implement flexible approaches successfully, including the importance of investigator buy-in, standardized processes, and building trust-based relationships between sites, sponsors, and CROs.