Conferences are great for reconnecting with colleagues, scoping out industry trends, and grabbing a few too many branded chip clips. But the best ones also come with surprises. Last year, I met someone who shared my last name. Not especially noteworthy until it turned out she and I were cousins and didn’t even know it!

This year at the OCT Conference in Southern California, the surprise was more professional but just as memorable.

Before a conference, I always eagerly anticipate who I might see. On Day 1, I ran into a face from 2002: the study manager from my very first recruitment advertising campaign. Seeing her in San Diego was the last thing I expected. Turns out she’s now a senior VP of global operations at a major CRO. She was in town for a speaking engagement and decided to swing by the conference and exhibit hall for the day.

It was great to catch up with what she’s doing, what I’m doing, and what Imperial has been up to all these years. She glanced at my badge and said, “Imperial? Wow! I worked with them for years, back before everything went digital. Are they still printing clinical trial documents?”

If that’s not the perfect setup for a segue… Her question opened the door to a conversation I’ve had many times: people know Imperial for our legacy in clinical printing, and some are still surprised to learn how greatly we have expanded. I smiled and joked, “This isn’t your momma’s old school print shop anymore!”

While we have long offered clinical study support through print as well as digital tools, we still have clients who view us as a legacy in clinical trial printing.

Yes, that is an Imperial specialty. We print a vast range of study materials, including patient recruitment and engagement materials, mini protocols, inclusion/exclusion cards, visit guides, comic books, and labels. The list is endless.

We can also create and design all the clinical study materials in-house, then translate everything into local languages and dialects using our team of in-country linguists who are experienced in life sciences.

The Full Scope of Clinical Study Services

But that’s just the beginning. There’s much more. We can procure protocol-compliant medical supplies and products. And patient comfort items like blankets and backpacks. There’s a full universe of such things.

We also provide kitting and warehouse storage. That means when sites are ready, we can ship.

We can send everything together, which not only saves the sponsor an enormous amount of money but also cuts down on waste and supports sustainability: fewer shipments, less packaging, and smarter timing.

Global logistics? That’s a no-brainer. We made more than 50,000 shipments to more than 100 countries last year.

Her reaction upon hearing about all our clinical study services was priceless. I could almost see the lightbulb flash on above her head. “I can’t believe someone didn’t do this sooner. Seriously! I’ve had a hard enough time finding a company that will design, translate, AND print everything in-house, let alone supplies and equipment. Plus, my project teams won’t have to store boxes of materials under and around their desk. What a concept!”

That moment has stayed with me. It’s exactly why we built Imperial the way we did. Working with a single organization that offers all those services under one roof is more than efficient; it’s a huge relief for study teams who are tired of juggling timelines, contracts, and yes, boxes of materials stacked under their desks. What a concept, indeed!

So when we say we understand the day-to-day challenges of running a study, we mean it. We’ve built our services around solving them. That’s why we love connecting at conferences: real conversations, real feedback, and sometimes, a few surprises.

My colleagues and I hope to run into you at a future conference. Check out the Imperial events page to see where Imperial will be exhibiting and attending.

The Imperial Advantage

Call on us when you’re tired of juggling vendors and chasing timelines. We create, design, translate, kit, store, and ship. Whether it’s recruitment flyers, visit guides, ancillary equipment and supplies, or comfort items, we’ve got it covered and coordinated.

We’re built to make things easier for study teams. That’s the whole point.