Emergency medicine leadership in industry-sponsored clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and characterize emergency medicine (EM) researchers who, since 1990, have served on a steering committee (SC) or as overall principal investigator (PI) of an industry-sponsored, multicenter clinical trial involving a pharmaceutical or device.


METHODS
North American EM research directors (RDs) and other prominent EM investigators (for those hospitals without a RD) were identified from eight sources, including the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine RD Interest Group and the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration (MARC) database. The identified investigators were sent a screening survey requesting information regarding industry-sponsored clinical research at their site. The individual EM investigators identified by this screening survey were then interviewed by telephone (validation survey) to further explore their leadership experience in industry-sponsored clinical trials.


RESULTS
Of 153 identified RDs and prominent EM researchers, 138 responded to the screening survey (90% response rate). Eighty-five EM investigators reportedly had served on a SC or as overall PI for an industry-sponsored clinical trial. Of these 85 North American EM investigators, 77 were available for a structured telephone interview (91% response rate). Although 41 (53%) of the investigators confirmed their leadership role, 36 (47%) had not served in either role. Among the 41 confirmed investigators, 19 (25%) had served as a SC member, 10 (13%) had served as overall PI, and 12 (16%) had experience in both roles. Individual responses provided suggestions for pursuing such leadership positions.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest the opportunity to expand EM leadership in industry-sponsored clinical trials and demonstrate the need for validation of reports obtained by a departmental research contact. The suggestions from EM researchers who have attained these leadership roles may provide strategies for investigators interested in pursuing these positions.
Newgard
Craig D
CD
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Kim
Sunghye
S
Camargo
Carlos A
CA
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D009656:North America; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*