Why We Gather
The Innovation Network Gathering is a by-invitation gathering of clinical research senior leaders, innovators, and decision-makers focused on how we anticipate, shape, and operationalize the future of human-centric clinical trials.
The event features a highly curated speaker series, small work groups called Dive Teams that move beyond discussion to focused collaboration, professional development workshops, and the Whale Tank innovators showcase.
Centering relationship-building and the real connections required for collaboration and change, the Innovation Network Gathering is where attendees gain early insight into emerging ideas, connect with leaders across the clinical research ecosystem, and collaborate on approaches that can be implemented within their organizations.
Why Participate?
Gain strategic insights from leaders across sponsors, sites, technology providers, and patient advocacy organizations on the trends, technologies, and operational models shaping the future of clinical trials.
Build meaningful relationships with key stakeholders across the clinical research ecosystem through intentionally designed dialogue and collaborative sessions.
Engage with leaders committed to advancing innovation and solving the industry’s most pressing operational and patient access challenges.
Contribute your perspective and expertise in Dive Teams designed to generate actionable ideas and approaches attendees can bring back to their organizations.
Position your organization as a visible leader in meaningful clinical research innovation among senior industry stakeholders.
Lead or participate in a dedicated Dive Team, collaborating with cross-industry peers to explore challenges, generate solutions, and build relationships with potential partners and future collaborators.
Some of the Companies and Organizations Represented by Attendees
What Participants are Saying
“The Innovation Network Gathering swaps the gauntlet of sales pitches for authentic, strategic dialogue. It's a rare space where free-flowing ideas spark real-world innovation. We left the 2025 session not just with notes, but with a new team and a book project in motion. The gathering is a gold standard for turning conversation into collaboration and change.”
Sarah Tremethick | Global Program Lead | Roche
“What differentiates the Innovation Network Gathering (ING) is the diversity of thought that you don’t get out of other conferences. Coming from the sponsor side, I attend ING not to buy, but to learn.
Hearing Kaye Doiron's Gathering talk about Patient Negative One gave me evidence and external support for an idea I'd been advocating for. I was able to bring back what I heard, but what was more impactful was sharing the video of the talk with my team. This helped me to make the case for an internal strategy that I’d been struggling to gain traction for before the gathering.”
Christina Fawcett | Director, Digital Health Delivery, GSK
“At the end of two days you have actual actions to move the needle on problems the industry has faced for years.”
Steve Walker | Sr. Director Operational Excellence and Clinical Compliance | CSL Behring
"There's the signal and the noise. The Innovation Network Gathering is the signal. I often have to go to conferences as part of my work; this is the one I want to go to."
Bryan J. Hansen, Ph.D. | Formerly J&J
“I want to network with people who are trying to solve the same problems I am, and I want to learn about new solutions and innovations without being sold to while I’m there. That's why I go to Innovation Network events.”
Deirdre BeVard | Formerly CSL
Gathering 2026
Anticipated Themes and Topics
Here’s a quick peek and what we’re working on for this year’s Gathering.
Ongoing Topics from Previous Gatherings
Site Readiness
Exploring site visit rehearsals and other innovative ideas to improve site readiness.
See previous work:
Trial Navigator
Developed in partnership with CSL Behring, exploring the design of a trial navigator system to improve awareness, accessibility, and equity in clinical research participation.
See previous work:
Agentic AI
And the humanity & data that are upstream of it. Exploring how to center human and data processes to inform the use and implementation of AI in clinical research.
Unblocking Innovation
Digging into the real reasons behind stalled collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and startups and developing and distributing best practices.
Effects of Compensation on Enrollment
What experiments can we run, and with whom, to test how participant compensation affects enrollment, satisfaction, data quality?
See previous work:
Expanding Equity and Innovation in Pharmaceutical Law and Drug Development: Paying Clinical Trial Participants for their Data in Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics
Data Interoperability
How can we generate and standardize sufficiently realistic USDM sample datasets to enable AI training, testing, and interoperability across tools and organizations?
See previous work:
New Topics We’re Exploring
Informed Consent: What innovations could make informed consent more understandable, engaging, and participant centered in clinical trials?
Patient Engagement
New Regulatory Approaches to Innovation
Evaluating Trial Tools and Technologies
How to Imagine and Build What's Next When Systems Crumble
How to Level up Investigator Meetings
Wild Card: What’s a problem in clinical trials this team wants to solve in 48 hours?