Segal Institute for Clinical Research has chosen Verified Clinical Trials (VCT), a global clinical trial database registry utilizing biometric fingerprint technology, to counter attempts at duplicate enrollment in clinical trial research and improve the safety of research volunteers and data quality.

Segal Institute for Clinical Research has elected to institute verification of the enrollment status for all research volunteers who are screened for their current enrolling studies at each of the Segal Institute sites. 

Bonnie Segal, vice president and co-founder of Segal Institute for Clinical Research, stated, "We recognize this is a growing and serious issue. We need to do our part and help solve the problem of dual enrollment. By utilizing the VCT research subject clinical trial database registry, we hope to weed out professional patients. Our research has shown its common for early phase sites to adopt a registry like VCT but uncommon for the sites specializing in later phase trials. Unfortunately there still is a lack of funding for this service but we decided we will take on the expense when necessary and ultimately help set a standard for clinical trial sites conducting trials in both early and late phase. We simply can't let the problems continue."

Segal Institute for Clinical Research has 18 years of expertise recruiting volunteers for studies in addiction, psychiatry, as well as women’s health. Experience has demonstrated that these trials are particularly prone to dual enrollment attempts by professional research subjects. A system to prevent this phenomenon in these studies is crucial.

Simultaneously enrolling in multiple clinical trials has become a serious challenge in the clinical research industry, as research volunteers attempt to jump from one study to another without waiting for the appropriate amount of time to lapse between studies. This is typically done in an effort to earn more money or receive free care. By doing this, others are placed at risk including the drug manufacturer, the research site, and, most importantly, the volunteer. Furthermore, this may result in issues with the data quality. 

Dr. Mitchell Efros, CEO of VCT, stated, “Segal Institute for Clinical Research has joined an excellent assembly of research sites and phase 1 units across North America. On day one, Segal Institute for Clinical Research will realize the many protections that Verified Clinical Trials offers with regards to duplicate enrollment and other important protocol violations. By joining forces with Verified Clinical Trials, Segal Institute for Clinical Research has made a concrete commitment to preventing duplicate enrollment in clinical trials as well as other protocol deviations while promoting subject safety and improving data quality. We at Verified Clinical Trials are pleased to expand our footprint in South Florida along with Charleston, South Carolina and work with a progressive and pioneering organization."

Kerri Weingard, ANP COO, added, “With the broad experience and mature data we now have accrued at Verified Clinical Trials, we know very well that research subjects are indeed traveling thousands of miles to screen for various clinical trials. We have also seen a tremendous amount of crossover from healthy volunteer phase 1 trials to later phase therapeutic studies by the volunteers. This is why it is so critical to cover both early and later phase trials.” Ms. Weingard went on to state, “Additionally, Verified Clinical Trials is the only registry that can follow and protect an investigational product from phase 1 all the way through its development. Use of Verified Clinical Trials is the only available means, if and when needed, to ensure that the research subject is naïve to the investigational agent. VCT will protect the volunteer and study from screening all the way to completion and the necessary washout period.”