Imperial Receives Platinum Award for Clinical Trial Video! Learn More

Imperial Clinical Research Services Blog
  • Services
    • What We Do
    • Study and Site Print Materials
    • Clinical Trial Translation Management
    • Ancillary Trial Supplies and Equipment
    • Clinical Trial Patient Engagement
    • CRO-Centered Services
    • A La Carte Services
  • Resources
    • Ebooks
    • Case Studies & Fact Sheets
  • About
    • About Us
    • News
    • Events
    • Corporate Responsibility
  • Contact
    • Contact Imperial
    • Career Opportunities
  • Blog
  • Marketplace
  • Services
    • What We Do
    • Study and Site Print Materials
    • Clinical Trial Translation Management
    • Ancillary Trial Supplies and Equipment
    • Clinical Trial Patient Engagement
    • CRO-Centered Services
    • A La Carte Services
  • Resources
    • Ebooks
    • Case Studies & Fact Sheets
  • About
    • About Us
    • News
    • Events
    • Corporate Responsibility
  • Contact
    • Contact Imperial
    • Career Opportunities
  • Blog
  • Marketplace
Author

Dan McDonald

Dan McDonald

Dan is vice president, business development, Imperial Clinical Research Services. Dan is a seasoned executive who specializes in identifying income opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and managing contract negotiations. A prolific and popular thought leader, Dan has presented at numerous industry conferences and events, has conducted workshops and sessions on patient engagement, and has been published numerous times in industry books, trade magazines, and journals.

    Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentLife-Science EventsSite Materials & Logistics

    Keeping Clinical Trials on Track: Navigating Supply Chains, Tariffs, and Regulatory Shifts.

    by Dan McDonald April 10, 2025
    written by Dan McDonald

    Changes taking place in the United States and internationally may affect the clinical trials landscape in the months and even years to come. Here are a few observations:

    FDA

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is reducing its workforce and streamlining its functions. It released a fact sheet regarding changes to expect, which include a workforce reduction at the FDA. Studies conducted by sponsor companies are largely free of direct impact; however, the FDA’s restructuring may affect timelines regarding approvals of studies and new drugs.

    Tariffs and the Clinical Trials Landscape

    While pharmaceutical products are exempt from the enacted tariffs, medical supplies essential for conducting clinical trials—such as gloves, needles, syringes, and monitors—are not.

    With a temporary 90-day pause currently in place for many tariffs—though tariffs on goods from China remain active—sponsors have a window of opportunity to review sourcing strategies and strengthen trial planning. Imperial remains ready to help teams navigate these evolving conditions.

    Tariffs can potentially drive up the costs of imported goods for at least the short term. They can also drive up the costs of goods imported into other countries worldwide that may be shipped there as part of a clinical trial.

    According to 2019 data from the Congressional Research Service and reported by the National Institutes of Health, the leading countries for medical supply imports in the U.S. are Ireland, Germany, China, Switzerland, and Mexico. Some countries are exempt from additional tariffs for now.

    There will likely be some process-related delays as federal agencies that impact trade and logistics put tariffs in place and ensure enforcement mechanisms are active.

    Clinical trial operations teams will need to be vigilant in assessing the impact of cost and time on their study budgets and timelines.

    As tariff negotiations evolve, it will likely make local sourcing for clinical trials a priority. The research and testing needed to find suitable equipment and supplies may lead to delays in trials as sponsors test and acquire protocol-compliant supplies.

    Our sage advice is always to plan ahead whenever possible to avoid disruption. And it’s even more important today to:

    • Begin trial planning early
    • Add buffer time to study ramp up activities
    • Set aside contingency budgets that are approved and in the purchase order

    Final Thoughts

    As the landscape continues to evolve, each day presents us with fresh developments and opportunities. We anticipate further adjustments and ongoing course corrections. At Imperial, we are closely monitoring these changes and stand ready to guide you through this dynamic landscape, providing tailored recommendations and strategic pivots whenever necessary.

    We encourage you to stay connected with us and share your insights as we navigate this journey together. Your feedback is invaluable; together, we can shape the future of clinical trials. Let’s embrace these changes proactively and drive innovation forward!

     

    April 10, 2025 0 comment
    1 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentBusiness InsightsClinical Trial Writing and DesignSite Materials & LogisticsTranslation of Study Materials

    How Can You Boost Clinical Trial Management Efficiency When Working with Vendors?

    by Dan McDonald February 26, 2025
    by Dan McDonald February 26, 2025

    Discover how to boost clinical trial management efficiency and minimize pain points for your next clinical study. The Complex Landscape of Clinical Studies The management hours required to oversee the many components of a clinical trial are substantial. Clinical operations teams typically concentrate on several…

    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Business InsightsPatient Recruitment and Retention

    On-Time Study Startup Challenges Are Lurking Around Every Corner: Don’t Panic! See Our Practical Solutions

    by Dan McDonald October 24, 2024
    by Dan McDonald October 24, 2024

    It’s Halloween, let’s cue the scary music! You know the theme, the single note on the high end of the piano played repeatedly. Yeah, that one. Being a sponsor of a global clinical trial is not for the weak-hearted! What makes a sponsor’s hair stand…

    1 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentSite Materials & Logistics

    The Clinical Trial Ancillary Supplies and Equipment Universe: Making it Work

    by Dan McDonald June 26, 2024
    by Dan McDonald June 26, 2024

    The clinical trial ancillary supplies and equipment universe is a big one and it’s growing. Are you getting the right supplies to your global sites on time? Read on for more information. The vast universe of ancillary equipment and supplies is made up of a…

    2 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentBusiness InsightsSite Materials & Logistics

    Medical Equipment for Clinical Trials: Rent vs. Buy – How Do You Decide?

    by Dan McDonald May 21, 2024
    by Dan McDonald May 21, 2024

    Finding the right protocol-compliant medical equipment for clinical trials is an important step in making sure the trial can be conducted successfully. Sponsors and CROs must also weigh the options of renting or purchasing. This blog guides you through the advantages and disadvantages of each…

    2 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Patient EngagementStudy Site Management

    Initiatives to Aid the Clinical Trials Industry: A Talk With Norman Goldfarb

    by Dan McDonald March 13, 2024
    by Dan McDonald March 13, 2024

    I recently caught up with my longtime friend and colleague, Norman Goldfarb. Norm is well-known to all of us in the clinical trials industry as an innovator and a best-practice thought leader for fostering clinical trial site relationships with sponsors and CROs. Norm’s resume is…

    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Business InsightsLife-Science Events

    Sustainability in Business: Transparency and Keeping Score

    by Dan McDonald February 6, 2024
    by Dan McDonald February 6, 2024

    Today, companies and industries grapple with the impact of three key types of sustainability in business. These factors are called ESG, another acronym for the clinical trial industry, already loaded with acronyms. This one, though, carries across industries and impacts everyone. ESG stands for environmental,…

    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Clinical Trial Writing and Design

    Clinical Trial Labeling: Don’t Get Stuck

    by Dan McDonald November 28, 2023
    by Dan McDonald November 28, 2023

    Clinical trial labeling is complex. Discover how Imperial CRS helped a client overcome some of the complexities of this critical clinical trial component. Did you know that product labels are big business? Labels are a lively commercial niche, and the global market for pharmaceutical labels…

    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Patient EngagementPatient Recruitment and Retention

    The Future of Clinical Trials, Patient Engagement, and Technology

    by Dan McDonald October 9, 2023
    by Dan McDonald October 9, 2023

    Clinical trial recruitment and patient engagement practices have evolved and so has clinical trial technology. What does the future look like? I recently spoke with Matthew Stumm, founder and president of the Boston-based patient recruitment agency Stark / Raving Health. I’ve known Matt for many…

    1 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • Patient EngagementPatient Recruitment and Retention

    Hidden Causes of Clinical Trial Retention and Compliance Issues

    by Dan McDonald April 11, 2023
    by Dan McDonald April 11, 2023

    This is the last in my three-part series revealing hidden causes behind delays in clinical studies. Part one is here, and part two is here. This final installment explores clinical trial retention and compliance. Are you waiting too long to begin planning patient retention and…

    0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmail
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5

Welcome

Welcome

The Imperial blog features content of interest to life-science professionals, with a special focus on clinical trials. We hope you will enjoy our experts’ perspectives, and invite you to join the conversation by leaving your comments. Please let us know of any additional topics you would like to see covered here.

Signup for our Blog Subscription

Signup for our Blog Subscription

Keep in touch

Twitter Linkedin Youtube Email RSS

Popular Posts

  • 1

    See Do Get

    August 12, 2014
  • 2

    Clinical Research Phases and the Path to Drug Approval

    August 8, 2023
  • 3

    Google Translate: The Unwitting Confidentiality Flaw

    April 15, 2020
  • 4

    25 Reasons People Aren’t Enrolling in Your Clinical Trial

    October 29, 2015
  • 5

    Clinical Trial Supply Chains: The Key to Avoiding Disruptions

    May 10, 2022

Categories

  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and Equipment (25)
  • Business Insights (122)
  • Clinical Trial Writing and Design (34)
  • Life-Science Events (50)
  • Patient Engagement (28)
  • Patient Recruitment and Retention (91)
  • Site Materials & Logistics (42)
  • Study Site Management (21)
  • Translation of Study Materials (17)
  • Uncategorized (1)
Imperial Clinical Research Services Blog

Imperial is a global leader in clinical trial solutions and support, specializing in study and site print materials, ancillary trial supplies and equipment, clinical trial translation management, and clinical trial patient engagement.

Imperial CRS Corporate Headquarters
3100 Walkent Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544

Contact

connect@imperialcrs.com

800.777.2591

020 3887 3437

Employment

Social

We Run on EOS - Entrepreneurial Operating SystemEcovadis Sustainability Rating January 2024West Michigan's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Winner 2025The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Logo
© Imperial CRS, LLC | Privacy Policy
Signup for our Blog Subscription

Subscribe to our blog and get the latest updates, insights, and industry trends delivered straight to your inbox. Stay informed and never miss a post.