DP Clinical CEO Shares a CRO’s Perspective on Clinical Trial Evolution for Applied Clinical Trials

DP Clinical’s CEO, Devinder Poonian, was interviewed by Applied Clinical Trials for their June issue discussing a CRO’s perspective on the evolution of clinical trials. DP Clinical has been in business for more than 24 years, and Ms. Poonian shares her observations on industry changes, CRO size, and spinal cord injury trials. The article is available at http://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/clinical-trial-evolution-cro-s-perspective

DP Clinical Inaugural Member of the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium

The North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC) has the mission to bring about unified achievements in research, care, and policy by fostering collaborative efforts across the spinal cord injury community. DP Clinical is an inaugural member of this important organization that brings together like-minded organizations, individuals, and groups to improve research, care, and policies impacting people living with spinal cord injury, families, and the community. Working collaboratively, the organization is structured to effectively bring out collective change through approved projects.

DP Clinical Leads Critical Aspect of SCI Research

Michele Towle, from DP Clinical, is the Chair of the American Spinal Cord Injury Association’s (ASIA) Clinical Trial Training Program Committee for International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) Training. This new program will allow Sponsors and others to access formal ISNCSCI training through ASIA. Under Ms. Towle’s leadership, the team has developed processes, guidelines, policies, and training material that will be used to train staff, clinicians, and researchers involved in spinal cord injury clinical trials. The ASIA program will provide an opportunity for dissemination and training of international standards to the entire SCI community, including current and standardized material useful for both research and clinical practice.

DP Clinical Serves on ASIA’s Autonomic Standards Committee and Membership Committee

James Hamer from DP Clinical is a member of the American Spinal Injury Association’s (ASIA) Autonomic Standards Committee. This Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of new standards documents related to spinal cord injury as well as continuous review and improvement of the existing ASIA documents on neurological and autonomic standards. The Committee is also responsible for the development of the online training program for ASIA standards and for the development and oversight of the International Data Sets project.

Michele Towle from DP Clinical has been a member of the ASIA Membership Committee since 2013. This Committee is responsible for recruiting and retaining individuals in the SCI community who have made a difference in the delivery of care for persons with SCI. The ASIA Membership Committee has expanded its role to cultivate relationships and communication in the allied health and scientific community in an effort to harness the concept of “bench to bedside” management of SCI. Also, in an effort to bring new members up to speed, a “mentorship for new members program” was initiated to facilitate early engagement in the learning and leadership opportunities ASIA has to offer. This committee serves both the best practitioners of today and those that will define the best evidenced-based practices of tomorrow.

DP Clinical Assistant Director, Spinal Cord Injury Program, Elected to Board of U2FP

Michele Towle, Assistant Director, Spinal Cord Injury Program, at DP Clinical has been elected to the Board of Directors for Unite 2 Fight Paralysis (U2FP) and will serve a three-year term. U2FP was founded in 2005 by three women living with paralysis as either spinal cord injury survivors or family members. U2FP is committed to the achievement of cures for paralysis through education, advocacy, and support for scientific research.

DP Clinical Assistant Director, Spinal Cord Injury Program, to Participate in NINDS SCI Common Data Elements Oversight Committee

Michele Towle, Assistant Director, Spinal Cord Injury Program, at DP Clinical has accepted an  invitation to participate in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Spinal Cord Injury Common Data Elements Oversight Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to annually review SCI common data elements based on recommended updates and feedback and also to make recommendations regarding suggested corrections and updates.

NINDS conducts spinal cord research in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also supports additional research through grants to major research institutions across the country. Advances in research are giving doctors and patients hope that repairing injured spinal cords is a reachable goal. Advances in basic research are also being matched by progress in clinical research, especially in understanding the kinds of physical rehabilitation that work best to restore function.