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# FDA Discusses Future of Clinical Research
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-discusses-future-of-clinical-research/
- Published: 2024-05-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T14:31:17.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5157020

FDA says the future of clinical research will “depend on generating evidence in simpler and more efficient ways, including incorporating innovation into routine clinical practice and expanding access to clinical trials.” In an [online post](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/fda-promotes-clinical-trial-innovation?utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fsource=govdelivery) observing Clinical Trials Day, FDA chief medical officer **Hilary Marston** says the recently established [CDER Center for Clinical Trials Innovation ](https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/center-drug-evaluation-and-research-cder/cder-center-clinical-trial-innovation-c3ti?ref=fdaweb.com)and other initiatives to support clinical trial innovation will “work to adopt transformative methodologies and technologies in clinical research to help accelerate the development of safe and effective medical products. Ongoing initiatives—including the Advancing Real-World Evidence program and [discussion papers](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/fda-releases-two-discussion-papers-spur-conversation-about-artificial-intelligence-and-machine?ref=fdaweb.com) on artificial intelligence and machine learning — represent the agency adapting to new developments related to the field.”

Improving diversity in clinical trials is also among FDA’s top priorities to help improve clinical trial data, Marston says. “The FDA has published a number of guidances to promote diversity and inclusion of underrepresented populations in clinical trials to help ensure the generalizability for the intended patient population, including guidances specifically addressing enrollment of children, pregnant people, older adults and underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, as well as guidances on innovative trial designs and technologies that should make clinical trials more accessible, such as decentralized clinical trials and digital health technologies.”

Additionally, she says FDA is working to ensure patient views are incorporated in all phases of clinical research. “For example,” she says, “[Patient Focused Drug Development](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs/cder-patient-focused-drug-development?ref=fdaweb.com) meetings and [patient listening sessions](https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-fda-patient-engagement/fda-patient-listening-sessions?ref=fdaweb.com) enable us to hear real world experiences of living with a disease and help us understand when a patient may consider participating in a clinical trial. We are also working to help ensure the informed consent process supports empowered decision-making for people considering participating in a clinical trial,” she says. “Recently, the FDA published a draft guidance on [key information in informed consent](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/fda-works-make-informed-consent-easier-understand?ref=fdaweb.com) that includes strategies to help ensure consent information is easier to understand for prospective research participants.”