The Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (APPI), a nonprofit group of nearly 1,200 physician members involved in the clinical research enterprise, has joined the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI).

The CTTI was founded recently by the FDA and Duke University as a public-private partnership of organizations that seeks to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials in the United States.

CTTI was formed in the wake of growing frustration among patients, consumers, the academic community, and industry concerning the difficulty of conducting high-quality clinical trials in a timely manner.

“As the leaders of the clinical research teams that test the safety and efficacy of potential new drugs and devices, physician investigators are in the prime position to spearhead efforts to make the trials process work better,” said Charles M. Alexander, M.D., FACP, FACE, president-elect of APPI.