Behavioural Risk Management in Clinical Trials In-house Training

Explore how human behaviour and stakeholder dynamics create hidden risks in clinical trials. Using the CURED framework and interactive learning, participants will learn to identify and manage relational risks that undermine trust and collaboration. The result: stronger teams, better communication, and more resilient project outcomes.

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Course overview

Traditional approaches to project risk management focus on events - predictable technical issues assessed by probability and impact, with mitigation or contingency plans put in place. Yet this lens overlooks a critical truth: projects are not just technical systems, they are also social systems. The interactions between stakeholders, shaped by goals, behaviours, and communication styles, can introduce complex, often overlooked risks. These are relational risks.

Recent research highlights relational risk as a key contributor to project failure. Unlike event-based risks, relational risks stem from misaligned behaviours and breakdowns in trust, transparency, and collaboration. Common challenges include:

Misalignment of goals
Opportunistic behaviour
Information asymmetry
Erosion of trust
Poor verification of performance
Concealment of negative outcomes
Ineffective communication

In this session, we’ll explore how to identify, assess, and manage relational risk using the CURED framework - an actionable model grounded in current research. Through a mix of theory and practice, including the experiential learning game NODEL, participants will engage in scenario-based problem-solving to apply CURED principles and strengthen stakeholder collaboration.

Event based risk analysis - a brief refresher
Relational risk - current research and the CURED framework
Some useful tools - Systems thinking and the theory of constraints
Interactive relational risk problem solving - playing the game Nodel and analyising the output.

Traditional risk management only takes you so far. That’s why this course introduces complementary models like Relational Risk and the CURED Framework, offering practical tools to manage uncertainty in technical and social project systems.

By the end of the course, you’ll walk away with a robust set of actionable techniques and a forward-thinking mindset to elevate your clinical research project outcomes, today and into the future.

Participants will also improve their career opportunities and gain the ability to help protect organisations from potential risks, positioning themselves as highly valuable assets in today’s competitive job market.

Browse our extensive selection of Life Sciences training courses for industry-leading insights into a range of topics. These include Medical Devices, IVDs, Biotech and Biopharma, Animal Health and Pharmaceutical training courses.

Benefits of attending

Learn about the research into Relational risk
Go beyond traditional Risk Analysis by exploring the critical role of Relational Risk in project success
Identify and assess behavioural risks within an organisation
Understand the psychological factors that influence decision-making
Apply the CURED Framework to navigate real-world examples and manage Relational Risk with greater confidence

Who should attend

This course is ideal for anyone involved in clinical research. It is applicable to professionals working in pharma, Clinical Research Organisations, and investigator sites, including:

VP of Project Management
Senior Directors
All levels of Project Managers
All levels of CRAs
All levels of CTA
Procurement and Outsourcing Personnel
Project Finance Professionals
Risk Analyst - Conduct risk assessments and develop strategies to mitigate potential risks
Compliance Officer - Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies
Behavioural Risk Manager - Identify and analyse behavioural risks within an organisation
Fraud Investigator - Investigate suspected fraudulent activities and implement fraud prevention measures
Security Analyst - Monitor security threats and develop strategies to protect sensitive information

This course will cover:

Project uncertainty

Event based risk analysis (PRAM) - refresher

Risk identification
Risk assessment
Risk management plans
Risk registers

Relational risk

Definition
Current research

Useful tools for relational risk identification

Systems thinking
The Theory of Constraints

Managing relational risk

The CURED Framework

Gamification

The benefits
Nodel - a game to allow easy access to the CURED Framework

Playing Nodel with a real life Scenario

Analysis of Nodel output

Roger Joby
1to1to1

Roger Joby: Director 1to1to1 Project Management Consultancy and Visiting Research Fellow Liverpool JM University

An international pharmaceutical project management consultant and educator with over 40 years’ experience, principally for Clinical Research Organisations in both clinical operations and bids, and contract departments.

Roger is a Board member of the Institute of Clinical Research and is a visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool JM University. He is involved in academic research and has published papers and written articles on the application of Earned Value Management in Clinical Research with colleagues at Liverpool JM University. Roger specialises in customising project management tools like EVM, Risk Analysis, etc to suit client-specific needs in the highly uncertain world of drug development.

Roger has worked as an independent consultant since the year 2000, but prior to this he worked in both sponsor and supplier companies in clinical research latterly in senior management positions.

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