Investigator meeting

An investigator meeting, also called study meeting or investigator meeting, is a meeting that is organized by the sponsor for the study participants (project managers, investigators, study nurses, clinical monitors) to discuss all aspects of the study, such as the protocol, study protocol, and patient recruitment, or to present initial results of a study or preliminary studies (pilot studies).

The purpose of investigator meetings is to provide further training on the subject area of the study, to discuss unclarified questions and to communicate between the study participants and with the sponsor. This ensures a uniform evaluation of results and a uniform handling of adverse events. GCP training can also be conducted at the beginning of a study or surgical or other interventional techniques can be discussed, so that an investigator meeting can significantly improve the quality of the study. During a study, investigator meetings also serve to improve recruitment.

Investigator meetings are usually paid for by the sponsor, so although investigators are not paid to attend the meeting, all travel expenses, including hotel and meals, are covered by the sponsor. When an investigator meeting is held, the code of conduct of the pharmaceutical companies and aspects of the anti-corruption law must be implemented.

The organization of investigator meetings is often entrusted to a Clinical Research Organization. In addition to the content of the presentations, this organisation also plans the venue, catering and hotel accommodation for the participants. Furthermore, the settlement of all travel expenses and the issuing of certificates of participation must be reliably taken over.

An Investigator Meeting is a very time-consuming and cost-intensive factor of a study, so that every step should be planned precisely in order to optimize costs.