Why Protocol Complexity Keeps Increasing – and How to Fix It
Despite genuine efforts across the industry to reduce protocol complexity, the trend line hasn't budged. The reasons are partly scientific and operational. And they're also deeply human.
Eliav Barr and Kenneth Getz
Eliav Barr is Chair of the Board at TransCelerate BioPharma and Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer at Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada. He oversees late-stage development programs across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, infectious diseases, neurology, and cardiometabolic conditions. Throughout his career, Dr. Barr has led several large global programs, including the clinical development of vaccines and therapeutics that have shaped standards of care worldwide. He has also served in senior scientific and medical affairs leadership roles guiding late-phase strategy, evidence generation, and global medical governance. Dr. Barr earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed residency and post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago.
Kenneth Getz is Executive Director and Research Professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, where he leads research examining drug development management, protocol design practices, clinical data usage, and global site landscape trends. An internationally recognized expert on clinical trial efficiency and innovation, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and speaks frequently at industry and academic forums. He also holds multiple board appointments across the public and private sectors and is the founder of CenterWatch, a leading source of clinical trials information. Getz received his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University.