Clinical Trials Development Workshop opens opportunities for cross-disciplinary research

Listening to questions posed during a Q&A Session with a Panel of Experts on everything from the University of Arizona’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), human subjects protection and the administrative side of grants management are (from left) Jarrod Mosier, MD, and Franz Rischard, DO (in rust-colored suit), co-leaders of the 2025 Clinical Trials Development Workshop.

Simona Janisch, MS, assistant director of the U of A Human Subjects Research Program, replies to a question on ins and outs of the program and complying with its requirements to ensure safe research participation at the University of Arizona.

Banner Health’s new chief research officer, Corey Casper, MD (holding microphone), gives input on how human subjects protections are ensured in research conducted through Banner – University Medicine hospitals and clinics in Tucson and beyond. Ahead of him is Sally Radovick, MD, Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute director. To his left: Justin Starren, MD, PhD, Center for Biomedical Informatics & Biostatistics director, and Sandesh Dev, MD, Tucson VA Medical Center R&D associate chief of staff.

CTDW 2025 co-leader Franz Rischard, DO (in rust-colored suit), prepares to respond to a question. In second row is Michael Insel, MD, also an APD in the PCCM/CCM Fellowships. In fourth row, in orangish top, is Heidi Erickson, RN, Pulmonary division research manager. And, in fifth row, second seat in, is Anna Morenz, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine.

After responding to a question from the audience, CTDW 2025 co-leader Franz Rischard, DO, asks the panel of experts if they have any additional feedback.

Christine Gaul, MBA (holding microphone), Research Administration operations director, U of A Health Sciences, discusses how its staff works with investigators and the IRB to ensure that all their documentation and procedures in research meet the highest standards.

As the Expert Panel Q&A wraps up, Jarrod Mosier, MD (beneath screen), and Franz Rischard, DO (on rail), prepare to launch into their “Rapid Fire” panel discussion. In top row on right is Tushar Acharya, MD, MPH (green top), a Cardiology division associate professor with a dual appointment in the Department of Radiology & Imaging Services.

CTDW co-leaders Jarrod Mosier, MD, and Franz Rischard, DO (seated at table onstage), discuss the practicalities intertwined between clinical faculty and basic science faculty – and the collaborative nature of how that fits into the academic setting at the University of Arizona.

CTDW co-leader Jarrod Mosier, MD (left), with Franz Rischard, DO (right), answers a question from Corey Casper, MD, Banner Research chief, on how the U of A Health Sciences colleges and their centers and institutes work together to bring the latest experimental therapies to patients via clinical trials – and the intricacies and detail that requires.

CTDW co-leaders Jarrod Mosier, MD, and Franz Rischard, DO (seated onstage), talk about “What academic success looks like in 2025?” – both inside and outside of the College of Medicine – Tucson. Bullets given include, 1) inside COM-T: grant submissions and awards, manuscripts, abstracts, mentees, lab techs/post-docs/data managers, trainees and students; and 2) outside COM-T: collaborators, networks, infrastructure grants, industry trials, societies and guidelines committees.

On pathways to academic success, CTDW co-leaders Jarrod Mosier, MD, and Franz Rischard, DO (seated onstage), classify them as traditional, by-the-bootstraps and collaborative. The first involves mentorship via NIH K grants (K23, K01, etc.) with built-in collaborations that “build success by replicating success.” The second relies on what’s immediately available, including investigator-initiated trials, observational studies, site participation (i.e., success for hire), and resulting collaborations. The third, collaborative, requires participating (often unfunded) in available research, looking for an opening via networks and societies, etc.

Referencing how early-career investigators can leverage available resources, Sairam Parthasarathy, MD, Pulmonary division chief and Center for Sleep, Circadian & Neuroscience Research director, explores how senior faculty can foster meaningful scholarship among junior faculty. In this slide, he talks about “Beginner’s traps,” such as undue admiration of authority, instrument addicts, etc.

Center for Biological Informatics & Biostatistics director Justin Starren, MD, PhD, talks about the evolving role of bioinformatics in research and the current craze for all things artificial intelligence, or AI. In this slide he looks in particular at what he calls the “hype cycle” for generative AI bots and inflated expectations as well as cautionary tales for clean research reference sourcing.

New Banner Research director Corey Casper, MD, who also is a professor in the DOM’s Division of Infectious Diseases, provides a by-the-numbers overview of Banner Health’s research investments and commitments. He notes that Banner’s research in 2024 involved +1,300 studies, about 400 team members, 38 new grants worth $88 million in funding, 435 research publications and 20,000 brain and body donation program (BBDP) tissue samples. Related 2024 revenue amounted to $61.4 million.

Panelists discuss the passion that drives researchers as well as benefits of hosting various forums to share related interests among potential collaborators and, in particular to Sairam Parthasarathy, MD (holding microphone), shares early advice he got from a mentor in the first year of his fellowship. That advice was, if you’re a good physician, you may have a great impact on one patient or a dozen patients, but a scientific discovery can broaden that to dozens, hundreds or thousands.