Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab

The Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab (CTRL) pilots, evaluates, and disseminates innovative recruitment strategies to improve access and representation in clinical trials. CTRL’s goal is to coordinate the resources and expertise needed to design and conduct pilots that test real-world solutions, generate evidence, and share best practices to improve recruitment at scale. CTRL brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, and philanthropy to create a collaborative platform for testing innovative strategies in real-world settings.

Program Leadership

**Paul Aisen, MD**
Director, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute

**Phyllis Ferrell, DrPH, MBA**
Nonresident Scholar, USC Schaeffer Institute

**Dana Goldman, PHd**
Founding Director, USC Schaeffer Institute

**Mireille Jacobson, PhD**
Co-Director, Aging and Cognition Program, USC Schaeffer Center

**Desi Peneva, MS**
Research Program Lead, USC Schaeffer Center

**Rema Raman, PhD**
Director, Alzheimer’s Trial Recruitment Innovation Lab

CTRL News and Research View All

2025 Clinical Trial Recruitment Lab (CTRL) Request for Applications

This notice invites applications for projects that leverage innovative technology-based approaches, including AI and machine learning, to overcome recruitment and retention barriers in Alzheimer’s clinical trials.

Aging

New Alzheimer’s Blood Tests Have the Potential to Supercharge Clinical Trials

Remote Blood Collection Shows Promise for Alzheimer’s Research

Featured White Paper

Key Barriers for Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials are more complicated, costly, and slower than trials for other diseases. Addressing barriers would accelerate the approval of innovative therapies.

Experts: Dana Goldman, Niranjan Bose

Read: Key Barriers for Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease

Ongoing Studies

The Alzheimer’s Trial Recruitment Innovation Lab (ATRIL) seeks to diversify participant recruitment and accelerate the process of enrolling a representative population in preclinical and prodromal Alzheimer’s clinical trials through evidence-based science, community engagement and training.

Alzheimer’s Trial Recruitment Innovation Lab

More Clinical Trial Research View All

News

Leveraging Corporate Tax Rates, Rather Than R&D Credits or Tariffs, Is Key to Supporting U.S. Biomedical Innovation

As cuts to NIH funding and Trump’s drug pricing executive order risk innovation, a new Schaeffer Center white paper analyzes how tax policies influence medical breakthroughs.

Innovation

Featured Experts: Karen Mulligan, Drishti Baid, Darius Lakdawalla

White Paper

How Does Corporate Tax Policy Influence Innovation?

Evidence Base

New Alzheimer’s Blood Tests Have the Potential to Supercharge Clinical Trials

Perspective

The Biotech Industry Needs to Make Its Case for Bold Change to the White House

In The News View All

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