A Cross-sectional Survey of Workforce, Training and Professional Recognition
Trial Managers (TMs) are central to the successful delivery of academic clinical trials. Their responsibilities have expanded to include project management, regulatory compliance, site engagement, recruitment oversight, and stakeholder communication. Despite this, concerns remain that increasing expectations are not matched by appropriate authority, resources, or professional recognition. This study explored the roles, training experiences, challenges, and priorities of TMs in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
A cross-sectional survey was distributed to individuals undertaking trial management responsibilities, regardless of job title. The questionnaire examined demographics, qualifications, trial experience, training, autonomy, involvement across the trial lifecycle, and challenges encountered in trial delivery. Quantitative data were summarised descriptively, while free-text responses underwent thematic analysis. Comparisons between UK and Irish respondents were exploratory.
Respondents were predominantly UK-based, with a smaller cohort from Ireland, and most worked in academic clinical trials. Findings were highly consistent across both countries. TMs reported substantial expansion of their role, with responsibilities increasingly resembling project management. Practical experience was valued over formal qualifications, but respondents strongly supported accredited training, professional recognition, and structured career pathways. Training was often ad hoc and reliant on experiential learning. TMs also reported limited autonomy and insufficient involvement in trial design and funding despite recognising their expertise as essential to trial feasibility and delivery. UK respondents more frequently highlighted workload and bureaucracy, while Irish respondents emphasised limited institutional capacity.
in summary, trial managers are critical to successful trial delivery but remain under-recognised, under-resourced, and under-utilised. Similar findings across the UK and Ireland suggest systemic challenges requiring coordinated approaches to training, professional recognition, and workforce development.
How to Cite
Bruhn H. and Shiely F. – Trial management in the UK and Ireland: A cross-sectional survey of workforce, training, and professional recognition, 2026, https://www.trialforge.org/tm_in_UK_Ireland
Funding
This work was funded by the Health Research Board Trial Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) Phase III.
The full report can be downloaded by clicking the button below.