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Clinical Trial Logistics

    Life-Science EventsPatient EngagementSite Materials & Logistics

    A Lightbulb Moment: Rethinking Clinical Study Services

    by Mike Lakey October 9, 2025
    written by Mike Lakey

    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.

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    October 9, 2025 0 comment
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  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentSite Materials & Logistics

    What Are The Essential Strategies for Study Supply and Equipment Planning?

    by Dan McDonald July 29, 2025
    by Dan McDonald July 29, 2025

    Clinical trials are dynamic endeavors, filled with numerous intricate components that must work together seamlessly for success. One of the most complex aspects of this process is study supply and equipment planning, which encompasses the procurement, storage, warehousing, and global distribution of ancillary equipment and…

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  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and Equipment

    Addressing the Complexities of Clinical Trial Ancillary Equipment and Supplies

    by Alejandro Serricchio January 9, 2025
    by Alejandro Serricchio January 9, 2025

    Clinical trial ancillary equipment and supplies encompass an astonishing variety of products and categories. This includes everything one might need to conduct a clinical trial, from IV bags to centrifuges, blood pressure monitors to syringes, refrigerators, and everything in between. The list is extensive, and…

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  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentSite Materials & Logistics

    Clinical Trial Kitting: Avoid Costly Pitfalls

    by Hope Cullen December 5, 2024
    by Hope Cullen December 5, 2024

    Clinical trial kits, which contain necessary items for site visits like sample tubes, labels, and instructions, all conveniently customized by trial and visit, are a staple of clinical trials. On the surface, putting the kits together might seem simple enough, but it’s not. Read on…

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  • Site Materials & Logistics

    International Clinical Trial Printing: Think Globally and Print Regionally

    by Ted Corrigan October 8, 2024
    by Ted Corrigan October 8, 2024

    Get highlights on how the international clinical trial printing vendor you select can impact everything from timelines to sustainability. Imperial supports numerous studies by writing, translating, designing, and printing clinical trial materials for sponsors, CROs, clinical research sites, and research patients. For this blog post,…

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  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentPatient EngagementPatient Recruitment and RetentionSite Materials & LogisticsStudy Site Management

    6 Top Picks: Clinical Trial Blogs Not to Miss

    by William McEwen December 27, 2023
    by William McEwen December 27, 2023

    The Imperial blog team took a look at our 2023 clinical trial blogs, and we’re shining the spotlight on our top six picks. So here they are, in no particular order: six clinical trial blogs worth reading (and re-reading). 1. Supply Chain: Master these key…

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  • 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…

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  • Site Materials & Logistics

    Mastering 4 Global Clinical Trial Logistics Challenges

    by Alejandro Serricchio April 19, 2023
    by Alejandro Serricchio April 19, 2023

    When dealing with global clinical trial logistics, the only thing you can be sure of is a challenge. You may have a smooth day today, but it’s a guarantee that you will face a new challenge tomorrow. You must be ready to address it, understand…

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  • Business InsightsClinical Trial Writing and Design

    Using Digital Print to Create Stellar Clinical Trial Materials: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

    by Dave Woodard March 15, 2023
    by Dave Woodard March 15, 2023

    Imperial’s digital presses support the front lines of clinical research across the globe. All the clinical trial print materials we produce for you—for example, ISF and pharmacy binders, patient recruitment materials, investigator meeting materials, and dosing diaries—are produced in the U.S. and the U.K. under…

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  • Ancillary Trial Supplies and EquipmentBusiness InsightsSite Materials & Logistics

    Clinical Trial Supply Chains: The Key to Avoiding Disruptions

    by Allison Schmoekel May 10, 2022
    by Allison Schmoekel May 10, 2022

    Clinical trial supply chains ensure study sites have the supplies needed throughout the study. This allows patient visits to occur without delays due to missing drugs, supplies, or equipment. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stress test on supply chains. The Capgemini Research Institute’s 2020 Supply…

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  • Site Materials & Logistics (45)
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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.

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