Q&A with Tim Dorsey
Investigator Meetings (IMs) unite global stakeholders in clinical research to align on study goals, streamline operations and improve patient outcomes. We sat down with Tim Dorsey, Product Training Team Lead at Greenphire, to hear about his experiences attending recent IMs in Peru and Milan — and what these gatherings reveal about the global nature of clinical trials.
Can you share a bit about the Investigator Meeting? What was its purpose, and why was it important?
The recent IMs I attended were for oncology studies, specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most of these studies are testing adjuvant or neo-adjuvant treatments in hopes of reducing or eliminating the need for invasive procedures like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The goal is to improve the patient experience — and the IM ensures that all sites are aligned in that mission.
The most recent IM I attended in Milan focused on a treatment for Alzheimer’s and very early onset dementia – an area that has historically faced immense challenges in bringing effective therapies to market. There was a shared sense of cautious optimism that this study might help shift the narrative.
What role did you play in the meeting and what were your main objectives while attending?
I typically wear a few hats:
- Supporting sites: Managing our booth, sharing materials, demoing Greenphire solutions, and connecting with site staff during breaks and meals.
- Supporting clients: Collaborating with CRAs and sponsor study teams to verify configurations, review workflows, and walk through system updates.
- Presenting: Often giving a 15–25-minute presentation about our offerings (Patient Payments, Travel & Logistics, GreenSpace participant app, etc.), along with a brief demo on requesting payments and travel.
How is attending an in-person Investigator Meeting different from virtual meetings?
In-person meetings are more personal and dynamic. I make myself available throughout the event, fielding questions, clearing up misconceptions, and building rapport. I usually attend the full session so I can absorb everything — from treatment protocols to patient screening strategies. It’s an invaluable way to understand the broader context and challenges of the study.
Did you notice any trends or recurring concerns among the investigators?
- Sites: Recruitment and retention are top concerns, especially in studies with narrow criteria. One dropout can severely impact the trial’s success, so sites are super focused on personalizing the experience for their patients and are always looking for ways to reduce patient burden.
- CRAs: Protocol compliance is critical. Sites are overwhelmed with tasks, and mistakes in data collection or schedule adherence can jeopardize the trial.
- Sponsors: Safety and efficacy come first. Sponsors must consider treatment dosages, adverse events, and complex schedules — and rely on sites to execute the plan flawlessly.
How do meetings like this help strengthen relationships between sites, sponsors, and vendors?
Sponsors often see Greenphire as a valuable partner in supporting patient retention. I’ve had teams request our presence at multiple future IMs after seeing how we support both their teams and the sites. When we’re on-site, it’s clear we’re viewed as an extension of their team — offering knowledge, tools, best practices and hands-on help to keep everything running smoothly. Sites, sponsors and vendors work as true partners with a shared goal of improving the patient experience and IMs help build upon those relationships.
Did you hear any helpful or interesting feedback from investigators?
New sites love our features, and returning sites often share great feedback from their teams and participants. Sometimes there are questions from sites about features that may not be enabled by the sponsor on their particular study. This presents a great opportunity to share this feedback with the sponsor team and perhaps work to update the study configuration accordingly.
What insights did you gain that could help improve how we support clinical trials globally?
There are a few areas of opportunity:
- Increasing general awareness of clinical trials
- Enhancing diversity in participant populations
- Encouraging closer partnerships between sites, sponsors, and patients — people want to feel personally involved in the development of their treatments.
What was the most memorable part of your trip?
I love presenting, especially in educational forums. It’s a chance to clearly show how easy and impactful our systems are — and sites usually have lots of questions, which drives great discussion. Overall, I really enjoyed exploring new countries, hearing meaningful stories and establishing new professional connections.
