Kicking off conference season with ISPEP CEO Alex Charge: ISMPP and SCOPE

From patient authorship to clinical trial technology, our very own Alex Charge shares highlights from the first two conferences of 2026.

2026 European Meeting of ISMPP

The ISMPP European Meeting 2026 was a strong reminder that medical publications are not just about data – but about trust.

What stood out most was the visible rise of patient authors, including fantastic members of our own ISPEP community. Having patient representatives recognised as lead authors and co-authors, rather than solely contributors, demonstrated real progress. Lived experience is no longer an afterthought in science, but a part of how research is shaped, authored and published.

The Patient Partner Connect meet-up was a highlight, as was the excellent panel on the growing recognition of patient-centred research and acknowledgement that a significant gap still exists in consistently and meaningfully integrating the patient voice across the research and publication lifecycle. It created valuable space for open discussion between patient partners, publication professionals and members of the ISMPP Patient Engagement Task Force.

The poster sessions reinforced both momentum and reality with some highlights. One demonstrated how limited journal guidance remains for patient authors and peer-reviewers. Another showed the operational and compliance barriers publication teams continue to face. A further study explored healthcare professionals’ perceptions of patient authorship and the support needed to make it meaningful.

Evidently, we are moving in the right direction, but the processes and guidance around patient authorship still need to evolve to fully support it.

Looking ahead, we are working on a joint initiative between ISPEP and ISMPP to build on this progress, strengthening practical guidance, supporting sponsors and compliance teams, and creating the right framework for meaningful patient authorship. When patients contribute as true partners, science becomes clearer, more relevant and more impactful. Watch this space for an outreach to the ISPEP patient authors soon.

17th Annual SCOPE Summit 2026

SCOPE this year showcased the scale of innovation shaping clinical trials: AI-enabled technologies, clear adoption of digital and decentralised delivery models, and stronger site partnerships driving performance optimisation. This ambition was demonstrated through sophisticated solutions and sponsor case studies delivering measurable outcomes.

And of all things – Willy Wonka!

This wasn’t simply storytelling; three themes felt particularly relevant:

1. Dream Big – Imagination is the first ingredient in every great invention.

2. Create Wonder – Push boundaries and challenge what’s considered possible.

3. Think Differently – Innovation thrives when we embrace unconventional ideas.

All three were visible across the event. What stood out, however, was a noticeable shift in the discussion towards the core of what matters in our human-centred industry. Patients. 

Speakers repeatedly returned to participant realities: protocol burden, narrow eligibility criteria, the accessibility of informed consent, whether digital tools genuinely make participation easier, and how study design directly influences who is able to take part. There was clear recognition that representative research is shaped early, through protocol decisions, site strategy and community connection – not just through recruitment tactics. There was also real acknowledgement that many recruitment challenges are designed into studies long before engagement strategies begin.

In that context, the “Golden Ticket” resonated more deeply: Make Trials Human.

Technology can accelerate delivery, AI can optimise outreach. But trust (that key word again) is built through empathy, transparency and meaningful inclusion in design. Ultimately, it remains the factor that determines participation.

Check out our collaborative report with Cutty+Cuttsy, 'The Participation Equation', to learn more – and watch this space for reporting from Olivia Kersey, ISPEP Operations and Engagement Director, on the Patient Centricity and Collaboration World Congress taking place now!