Welcome Message from 2026-27 SCT President

Welcome to the Society for Clinical Trials (SCT)

The SCT is a scientific, educational, and charitable organization established for the purpose of working internationally to advance human health through advocating the use of clinical trials, the development and dissemination of optimal methods and practices in clinical trials, and the education and development of clinical trial professionals. The SCT has an international, multidisciplinary and multi-specialty membership representing members from academia, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, government organizations and patient advocacy groups. The SCT provides a professional home for anyone interested in the clinical trial practice in all disease areas and clinical trial applications with an emphasis on design, ethics, conduct, operations, analysis and reporting.

There is no doubt, the landscape of clinical trials is changing rapidly. Digital technologies (including wearables and data capture and sharing capabilities), data automation and standardization, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine are creating exciting new opportunities to make trials faster, smarter, and more patient-centered. We have witnessed remarkable innovation in the past few years alone, from novel trial designs, standardized and automated reporting to the rapid development of therapies, vaccines and preventive interventions. Yet innovation alone is not enough. We need to ensure that our trials are impactful and to do so they need to be scientifically valid, their findings need to be truly generalizable and applicable in practice and ultimately bring better treatments to patients everywhere.

Clinical trials are an essential component to the development and advancement of new interventions intended to improve human health. Whether you are involved with a clinical trial for the first time or have experience with numerous clinical trials, challenges can arise in the various aspects of design, ethical requirements, coordination, analysis and dissemination of results. The SCT provides important opportunities for early, mid, and late-career clinical trialists and offers reduced SCT membership fees for students and trainees to advance their knowledge and training of clinical trials, to exchange ideas, and participate in discussions about the evolving landscape of clinical trials.

We invite you to explore our website and LinkedIn page for further information about the SCT including our quarterly newsletter and information on our upcoming 48th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois May 16-19, 2027. Thank you to our current members and volunteers for your continual support and important contributions to the clinical trial community and the SCT. If you are not already a member, consider joining the SCT community to further benefit from access to webinars, conference presentations and workshops, subscription to the SCT's journal Clinical Trials, and discounted registration for the SCT's annual meeting.

The SCT has been my professional home since I began my career in the pharmaceutical industry before joining an academic medical institution. I am honored to serve as the SCT President this year and share the commitment to advocate the importance of clinical trials in the advancement of human health.

Alexia Iasonos, PhD

SCT President 2026-27