In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Patryk Mikucki, Vice President and Global Head of Country Operations at Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. With over 25 years of experience across veterinary medicine, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry, Patryk brings a bold, deeply human perspective to the world of clinical trials.

From his unexpected career journey—starting with animal ethics committees in Poland to building operations in Ukraine—to his philosophy of punk-rock leadership, Patryk emphasizes diversity, transparency, emotional intelligence, and hope as essential elements in research.

We discuss:

• The future of AI in pharma and patient-centric innovation
• Building empowered, passionate global teams
• Diversity beyond race: disability, access, and health equity in clinical trials
• The power of real-world evidence and personalized medicine
• His dream of customized, on-demand clinical trials powered by 3D printing

With heart, humor, and fierce honesty, Patryk shares what it really takes to move science forward—without losing sight of the people it’s meant to serve.

💬 “As long as we don’t have solutions for all patients, we are not done.”

Veteran clinical-operations leader Doug Schantz joins Clinical Trial Files to trace a career that spans emergency-room stretchers and first-in-human gene-therapy trials. In this lively conversation Doug unpacks:

• how a paramedic’s mindset shaped his approach to Phase 1-4 global programs at Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Alexion, and AskBio;
• the biggest headaches—and hidden advantages—of running studies across borders and therapy areas (oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, rare disease, gene therapy);
• practical lessons on in-house vs. outsourced monitoring, risk-based quality management, and building site relationships that last;
• the future of gene-therapy trials—and the three traits he’d engineer into a “perfect” clinical site;

Whether you’re running your first study or steering an entire portfolio, Doug’s candor and hard-won playbook will leave you with fresh tactics—and a few laughs—to bring back to your own trials.

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Physicist-turned-NLP expert Thomas Wood joins hosts Karin and Taymeyah to explore how artificial intelligence is shortening the road from protocol to patient. Thomas recounts founding Fast Data Science, explains why a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant sparked his open-source Clinical Trial Risk Tool, and reveals the AI workflows already cutting months—and millions—from large pharma studies. The panel marks Alan Turing’s 113th birthday, trades “one thing I wish AI could do today,” and tackles myths around machine learning in healthcare. Looking ahead five-to-ten years, Thomas sketches a future of decentralised, patient-centric trials, but warns of regulatory and data-governance hurdles that still loom. New to the field? Stick around for book picks, career tips and a closing thought experiment for Turing himself.

Join us as seasoned Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) Elyce takes us inside the intersection of science, ethics, and compassionate patient care. Tracing the CRN role’s evolution—from navigating rigid study protocols to championing patient-centered advocacy—Elyce reveals the ethical tightropes nurses walk, the trust they build, and the values that guide them. She shares personal stories, career advice, and points listeners to resources like the International Association of Clinical Research Nurses (IACRN) that are shaping the profession’s future. Whether you’re curious about clinical trials or considering a career in research nursing, this candid conversation offers an inspiring, insider’s guide to the vital work of CRNs.

Clinical trials affect millions—but most people have no idea how they actually work. In our pilot episode, meet your cohosts Roberto Torres, Taymeyah Al-Toubah, and Karin Avila as they share their personal paths into research and why this field matters more than ever.

From the human impact of oncology trials to how natural disasters can disrupt research, this episode dives into the real challenges, surprising stories, and the power of collaboration in clinical science. Whether you’re a curious outsider or deep in the research world, this series will help you see trials in a whole new way.