It was at the DPHARM conference, nine years ago where we featured a case study with Katherine Vanderbilt, representing pharma, Jennifer Byrne representing the site, and Jeff James, representing a healthcare system where they brought forward a session demonstrating a case study on linking clinical care and clinical research with improved health outcomes for patients. This session sparked many questions and continued interest in how we can reduce the gaps between care and research to get many more patients access to and an option for a clinical trial. 

To build on this, we quickly formed a working advisory group and gathered frequently until presenting a full day public meeting to tackle the many challenges and barriers to bringing more clinical trial options for patients in a care setting and how to structure research throughout the continuity of care. 

Over the years through the gathering of hospital systems across the US, patient advocates, research physicians and nurses, FDA reps, pharma clinical operation executives and technology companies we have presented many case studies featuring examples of collaborations between care and research to support an important movement. 

We formed the acronym CRAACO® in a conference planning meeting as an abbreviation to represent Clinical Research as a Care Option®. We are now presenting the 10th annual CRAACO® conference and have year-round access to editorial, exclusive interviews, podcasts and webinars.
​​​​​​​