top of page
Foote shapes_1.png
Janelle Bowden bio.png
“Continuing to learn and grow is a reason why I’ve joined ISPEP … When you find your tribe, it’s powerful.”
“My hope for the future of patient engagement is that it helps deliver better outcomes from R&D that benefit more people.”

Janelle Bowden

Janelle is the founder of Access CR, a social enterprise covering research consultancy, advocacy, clinical trial participant support, and more

I am a passionate advocate for patient engagement and involvement in research and development – and here’s how I got here.


After graduating with a PhD in immunology, I worked in laboratory/pre-clinical research for a few years, then moved into clinical trials in 2000. I then had a variety of clinical operations roles across Australia and Europe for pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations, and a children’s hospital.
I have engaged extensively with patients / community members to understand their experiences with and barriers to participating and partnering in research. These interactions have cemented my belief that we will always get substandard outcomes if we ignore these important stakeholders.


I was inspired to set up AccessCR in 2007 to improve awareness of and efficiency in clinical research. AccessCR has evolved into a social enterprise, providing consultancy and other services to the research-engaged sector. These services fund our work in advocacy and practical support of people seeking and taking part in clinical trials and partnering with research and development teams.


Like most patient engagement professionals, I have no formal qualifications for the role, but what I do have is expertise in clinical trials combined with a genuine passion and a commitment to always listen to and learn from patients, seek to improve the integration of lived experience into R&D, and to do no harm in the process. I learn every day through the generosity of those who share their stories, experiences, hopes, dreams, successes, challenges, and frustrations. Continuing to learn and grow is a reason why I’ve joined ISPEP. It can be hard work to do alone, and no one wants to re-invent the wheel. When you find your tribe, it’s powerful.


No company or researcher can afford the waste of time, effort, and resources in developing solutions that aren’t fit for purpose or don’t matter to the patient community. Nor do patients have time to wait. My hope for the future of patient engagement is that it helps deliver better outcomes from R&D that benefit more people, with greater efficiency and a reduction in avoidable harm. While truly realising the potential of patient engagement for R&D will require a major shift of culture and power, not to mention significant investment in processes and infrastructure, I truly believe we can achieve superior outcomes if we are successful in coming together to make this transition. After all, as Aristotle wisely said – “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

bottom of page