This time, we’re shining a light on Lisa Jansen from Research Drive B.V.!

At ACRON, we are committed to increasing our visibility and highlighting the valuable work carried out within our member companies. What exactly happens in a CRO?  Who better to share that story than the people involved every day?
Discover the remarkable work and impact of our sector!

Who are you, where do you work, and what is your role? What does it involve?

My name is Lisa Jansen, and I work at Research Drive B.V. as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). In this role, I am like the “spider in the web.” I communicate with various stakeholders involved in clinical research, including physicians, research staff (such as nurses), different departments within a hospital, and other third parties. I also maintain contact with the sponsors. My responsibilities as a CRA include overseeing and managing clinical trials, ensuring adherence to study protocols, regulatory requirements, and ethical guidelines. CRAs are essential in protecting participant safety, maintaining data integrity, and ensuring the seamless execution of clinical studies.

In your opinion, what is the biggest added value of you/your company to clinical research in the Netherlands?

Research Drive offers a highly motivated team and a personalized approach, as we are a small company. We perform independent monitoring and go for the extra mile to ensure the highest quality of clinical trials, safeguarding the integrity of data, protocol compliance, and participant safety. Our specialized staff can be contracted for both short- and long-term assignments. Our team includes Clinical Trial Assistants, Clinical Trial Managers, Project Managers, Clinical Research Associates, and Regulatory Specialists, each contributing valuable expertise to the advancement of clinical research.

What are the career perspectives and opportunities for people in your role?

Career growth for CRAs is significant, with opportunities for advancement into positions such as Senior Clinical Research Associate, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Research Director, or Clinical Operations Manager.

What is the biggest challenge for you in conducting clinical research in the Netherlands?

It’s difficult to pinpoint a single biggest challenge, as each study is different and comes with its own challenges. However, recurring challenges include for example ethics and approval since clinical research must adhere to strict ethical guidelines, which often results in long approval processes by ethics committees, delaying the start of a study. Additionally, participant recruitment is often a significant challenge. Finding sufficient participants can be difficult, especially for rare conditions or studies with strict inclusion criteria. This can extend the duration of a study. These are examples of challenges, but I really enjoy tackling them together with my colleagues and the study teams. 

What are your expectations of ACRON?

As Research Drive, we are excited to be a member of ACRON. I expect ACRON to continue fostering collaboration, and providing relevant industry information, as well as offering networking opportunities and knowledge enrichment through meetings and symposia.