Large Majority of Americans Say Consideration of Clinical Trial Participation Should be a Part of Regular Health Care

New National Public Opinion Survey Reveals Willingness to Participate in Clinical Trials; Importance of Trials Reflecting the Population; Concerns About Sharing Personal Health Information Have Grown  
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Arlington, VA – December 5, 2023 – According to survey findings released today, an overwhelming majority of Americans (87%) agree that health care professionals should discuss clinical trials with patients diagnosed with a disease as part of their standard of care. Further, sixty-one (61%) percent agree that consideration of clinical trial participation should be a part of regular health care whether patients are healthy or ill, up from 44% in 2017. Commissioned by Research!America in partnership with the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO), the October 2023 national survey captures Americans views on clinical trials and clinical research. ( View slide deck of survey results. )

“We are pleased to partner again with Research!America to survey public attitudes toward clinical trials, which are essential to the development of new drugs and new treatments for the people who need them,” said Doug Peddicord, Executive Director of ACRO. “Especially important is that the public believes that clinical trials should be part of everyday health care and that physicians and other healthcare providers should discuss clinical trial options with their patients.”

Despite widespread support for the incorporation of clinical research into health care, only 36% of respondents say their doctor or other health care professional has talked with them about medical, health, or clinical research. That said, this is an encouraging jump from 19% in 2017 who said so. Overwhelmingly, respondents prefer getting information about clinical trials from their doctor or health care provider (77%) rather than other sources and say that doctors and health care providers (50%) have the greatest responsibility in educating the public about clinical trials.

While approximately 8 in 10 respondents say they have heard of a clinical trial, only 26% say they or someone in their family has ever participated in one, up from 18% in 2017. However, of those that had not participated in a clinical trial, 49% are willing to do so. Respondents noted lack of trust (57%) as the top reason individuals do not participate in clinical trials, which grew from 38% in 2017. Adverse side effects (52%), up from 34% in 2017, and lack of awareness/information (55%) follow closely.

Most Americans feel positively about clinical trials with many agreeing that they benefit from clinical research and its findings (73%). Factors important to clinical trial participation are understanding potential risks and benefits (72%), competence and reputation of people or the institution conducting the research (71%) and having an expert guide through the clinical trials process (60%). Eight in 10 respondents said they were likely to participate in a clinical trial at a traditional site (like a hospital or a doctor’s office), but many also indicated that they would be likely to participate at a non-traditional site with 75% likely to participate at a home site and 67% at a community site (like a community health center, clinic, CVS, Walgreens, etc.).

“Clinical trials are essential to progress in medical research. These new survey findings highlight that Americans are not only interested in learning more about clinical trials, they are willing to get involved,” said Mary Woolley, President and CEO of Research!America. “Though a growing lack of trust is cause for concern, it is heartening to see Americans’ strong support for clinical research. It’s clear that it’s time to expand discussion between patients and health care professionals, ensure access to clinical trials, and improve participant diversity.”

Though most respondents expressed willingness to share personal health information, the survey reveals a downward shift in public attitudes on this topic that calls for attention from the research community. Respondents say they are willing to share their health information:

  • To advance medical and health research (71%), down from 82% in 2017.
  • So researchers can better understand diseases and develop new cures (70%), down from 84% in 2017;
  • So health care provide­­rs can improve patient care (68%), down from 79% in 2017;
  • So public health officials can better track diseases, disabilities, and their causes (63%), down from 74% in 2017.

Data suggests that confidence in the U.S. system for reviewing the effectiveness and safety of new medicines and medical technologies has increased with 7 in 10 saying they are confident in the current system, up from 63% in 2017. Respondents are split, however, on the speed with which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should act.

Additional highlights from the Research!America/ACRO survey include:

  • Seven in 10 respondents want to find out more about taking part in clinical trials.
  • Eighty-five percent say it is important that clinical trials populations are representative of the U.S. population.
  • Most all agree that clinical trials are important to advancing science (90%) and improving health (87%).
  • Only a quarter of respondents are familiar with clinicaltrials.gov and clinical research organizations (CROs). Twenty-five percent of respondents have heard of clinicaltrials.gov, slightly up from 22% in 2017, and 24% have heard of clinical research organizations (CROs), no significant change from 2017.

The online survey was conducted by Zogby Analytics on behalf of Research!America in October 2023, among 1,005 adults plus 1,207 additional adults for minority oversampling. The survey has a theoretical sampling error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.

For questions about the survey, or to set up an interview with Mary Woolley, contact Taylarr Lopez, Director of Communications for Research!America, at 571-482-2719 or tlopez@researchamerica.org with press inquiries.

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About the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO)

Founded in 2002, ACRO represents the world’s leading clinical research and technology organizations, which provide specialized services that are integral to the development of drugs, biologics and medical devices. ACRO and its members advocate on a global basis for safe, ethical, high-quality medical research so patients can benefit from the development of new treatments and therapies. Our members are dedicated to helping their clients bring efficiency, innovation and value to the clinical research process.

About Research!America Research!America is a non-profit medical and health research advocacy alliance which advocates for science, discovery, and innovation to achieve better health for all. Visit www.researchamerica.org.

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Nutrivert announces first close on $6 million Series A-2 funding round

April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026 - Nutrivert Inc., a developer of non-antibiotic replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in livestock, today announced it has completed the first close, raising $2.375 million, of its Series A-2 funding round of $6 million. The round was led by global animal health investor Arrow Ventures with participation from other investors. The funding will be used to further develop Nutrivert’s manufacturing, human food safety and target animal safety and efficacy packages for the company’s lead product Nutrivert LDPP. Nutrivert LDPP is a proprietary, novel, orally available, lipidated synthetic enantiomeric desmuramyl analog of muramyl dipeptide, the smallest conserved immunoactive component of bacterial peptidoglycan. LDPP has no antibacterial effect but has consistently promoted growth and improved feed efficiency in pig studies. LDPP binds to the mammalian NOD2 receptor and is the only NOD2 ligand reported to inhibit the inflammatory signal NF-κB. In pilot studies, LDPP rescued 70kg pigs from an otherwise lethal dose of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and abrogated influenza disease symptoms in piglets. The Company intends to develop LDPP for all major livestock species worldwide. Patents have been granted in most major markets. The global antibiotic growth promoter market is worth an estimated $5.8 billion. Approximately 73% of all antibiotics are fed to livestock. The market is believed to be the world’s largest drug market by volume, with ~100,000 tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient administered annually. FDA’s latest data, for 2024, show a 13% rise in U.S. livestock antibiotic use since 2017. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that livestock antibiotics are mostly given to speed animal growth. Regulators and non-governmental organizations have called for reduction of antibiotic use in livestock, citing concerns that the global, intensive use of antibiotics, often at subtherapeutic doses, selects for antimicrobial resistance: bacteria that are “immune” to antibiotics and that therefore pose a threat to public health. Spillovers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from livestock to humans have been documented. “Nutrivert LDPP has consistently improved feed efficiency in pigs without antibiotics,” said Bernhard Kaltenboeck, CSO. “We are excited to have the support of Arrow Ventures and our other investors in bringing a new tool that will help producers reduce production costs and reduce selection pressure for antimicrobial resistance.” About Nutrivert LDPP: LDPP is an investigational compound currently undergoing clinical evaluation. It has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or any other global regulatory authority for any indication. The safety and efficacy of LDPP have not been established. Any mention of potential use is based on preliminary data and does not guarantee future regulatory clearance or commercial availability.

USDOL Approves National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards

April 16, 2026
[Seattle, WA] April 15, 2026 – Apprenti, the leading national intermediary for Registered Apprenticeship (RA), is proud to announce the formal approval and filing of the National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Crafted under the strategic guidance of the Apprenti Life Science Advisory Board—which includes leaders from Pfizer, Merck, Thermo Fisher, and Biogen—these standards were developed in close partnership with the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) and InnovATEBIO as part of a high-impact NIIMBL project. This approval represents a foundational shift for the industry, moving away from a fragmented, state-by-state approach to a scalable, consistent model for developing biomanufacturing professionals at sites across all 50 states. The national standards provide a “plug-and-play” framework that ensures a technician trained in Massachusetts or North Carolina meets the same rigorous, industry-vetted benchmarks as one in Ohio or Missouri. The foundational development of these national standards was informed by existing Life Science RA programs from organizations across the country, including: MassBioEd, Oregon Life Sciences, National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM), BioSTL, Wistar Institute, North Carolina Life Sciences Apprenticeship Consortium (NCLSAC) and others. A National Engine for Talent: The filing of these standards is a cornerstone of NIIMBL’s efforts to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing capabilities and develop the workforce of the future. Beyond the standards themselves, the project is delivering a suite of resources and tools—including a comprehensive Employer Toolkit and specialized screening rubrics—that state-based organizations and employers can leverage to implement RA programming for their most in-demand roles. “These national standards set the stage for a sustainable, skills-first pipeline that mirrors the rigor of the industry’s most complex manufacturing processes,” said Daniel Weagle, Director of Life Science Business Development at Apprenti. “By providing a unified approach, we are empowering national employers to scale their workforce development efforts strategically and accessibly.” The Value Proposition of Registered Apprenticeship For Life Science employers, the Registered Apprenticeship model offers a compelling business case rooted in cost-effectiveness and long-term stability: High Retention: RA programs boast exceptional retention rates—historically as high as 89% to 90%—as apprentices are trained within a company’s specific culture and protocols from day one. Cost Efficiency: Research indicates that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers see an average return of $1.47 in increased productivity and reduced recruitment costs. Inclusive Innovation: The model expands access to untapped talent pools, including non-degreed individuals and career-switchers, ensuring the biomanufacturing workforce reflects the demographics of the communities it serves. As the global biopharmaceutical market is projected to exceed $570 billion by 2032 , this partnership between Apprenti, NIIMBL, and industry leaders ensures that the U.S. workforce is not just prepared for the future of manufacturing, but is actively driving it. This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086). About Apprenti: Apprenti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a U.S. Department of Labor recognized Intermediary. Apprenti designs and delivers scalable Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs in high-demand industries. By adapting the proven apprenticeship model, Apprenti helps employers meet workforce needs while training the next generation of skilled professionals. Apprenti’s programs are industry-recognized, federally approved, and supports employers across the country. Since launching in 2015, Apprenti has partnered with employers, government agencies, and education providers to create new apprenticeship pathways. About NIIMBL The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of industry standards, and educate a world-leading workforce. Media Contact: Dan Maiese, Communications Manager, dmaiese@niimbl.org , 302-831-3824 About the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) The Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) is a national nonprofit coalition of state, regional and national life science associations and institutes who are working together to build a competitive, and future-ready life sciences workforce. Originally founded in 2012 as the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI), LSWC connects industry, academia, and government partners through data-driven insights, best practice sharing, and collaborative programs. Learn more at www.LifeSciencesWorkforce.org About InnovATEBIO InnovATEBIO is a National Center for Biotechnology Education, working to advance the education of highly skilled technicians for the nation’s biotechnology workforce. Toward this goal, InnovATEBIO provides leadership in biotechnology technician education, including support for development and sharing of best practices and emerging technologies in biotechnology workforce development. Read LSWC's full announcement here.
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