Introduction to Multicenter Trials: Powering Up From Proposal to Publication - Virtual Meeting Series
This six-part webinar series provides a structured, practical roadmap for developing, launching, managing, and publishing high-impact multicenter trials. Designed for young investigators interested in leading or contributing to an EAST MCT or AAST MIT proposal, the series walks participants step-by-step from idea generation through dissemination and long-term program development.
As part of the EAST MCT proposal review process, principal investigators who have attended at least 50% of the webinar series will receive additional scoring consideration, reflecting formal engagement with the educational framework and proposal standards outlined in this program.
Sessions occur monthly from March through August 2026. Each session is 1 hour and 20 minutes in duration.
This series is being led by the EAST Multicenter Trials (MCT) Committee and is being supported by The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) in collaboration with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST).
To register for the series please click the button below:
register here
Session 1: Introduction to Multicenter Trials: Concept Development and Leveraging the National Trauma Research Action Plan
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)Description:
This session introduces the foundations of multicenter trials and the strategic advantages of collaborative research. Faculty will review the defining features of MCTs, the benefits and challenges of investigator-initiated and unfunded studies, available EAST and AAST infrastructure to support collaboration, and the role of the National Trauma Research Action Plan (NTRAP) as a framework for identifying and prioritizing impactful research questions.
Participants will learn how to translate research ideas into focused, feasible multicenter concepts aligned with national priorities. By the end of the session, attendees will be prepared to assess whether a question is appropriate for multicenter collaboration, refine it for rigor and practicality, and strategically position it within existing national research efforts.
Session 2: Turning Concepts into Studies: Practical Approaches to Aims, Hypotheses, and Methods
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)Description:
This session focuses on transforming strong research ideas into well-structured study proposals. Faculty will review how to craft clear, focused aims and testable hypotheses grounded in existing evidence, distinguish exploratory from confirmatory objectives, define appropriate primary and secondary outcomes, and select study designs that align with the research question. The session will also address refining inclusion and exclusion criteria, identifying essential data elements, and minimizing burden on participating sites to ensure feasibility.
Participants will learn how to develop precise aims and hypotheses that drive strong study design, align outcomes with measurable and meaningful endpoints, and structure proposals that are methodologically sound and practical to implement. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped to translate a research concept into a clear, feasible, and competitive multicenter study framework.
Session 3: From Methods to Momentum: Writing a Strong Methods Section, Building Your MCT Team, and Using CNTR Resources
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Description:
This session emphasizes methodological rigor and the operational foundations of successful multicenter trials. Faculty will review how to construct a strong methods section, including defining dependent and independent variables, planning statistical analyses, conducting sample size and power calculations, addressing missing data, and pre-specifying a statistical plan. The session will also cover strategies for building and managing an effective MCT team, clarifying roles and authorship expectations, sustaining engagement in unfunded settings, and leveraging CNTR resources and repositories to support study development.
Participants will learn how to strengthen the methodological quality of their proposals, collaborate effectively with statisticians and research teams, and implement practical structures that support successful multicenter execution. By the end of the session, attendees will be prepared to develop a rigorous, well-organized methods plan and build the infrastructure needed to carry a multicenter study forward.
Session 4: Running a Study Efficiently: IRB Navigation, Budget-Friendly Data Management, and Project Planning
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Description:
This session addresses the regulatory and operational components required to run a multicenter study efficiently, particularly in resource-limited settings. Faculty will review IRB strategies, including single versus multiple IRB models, data-sharing considerations, HIPAA compliance, and data use agreements. The session will also cover cost-conscious data management approaches, including selecting appropriate data collection platforms, developing standardized data dictionaries, and implementing systems to reduce errors and missing data, along with core principles of project management and site coordination.
Participants will learn how to navigate regulatory processes with greater confidence, implement practical and sustainable data management strategies, and establish realistic timelines and coordination structures to maintain site engagement and ensure study completion. By the end of the session, attendees will be better prepared to operationalize their multicenter trial from approval through execution.
Session 5: Maximizing Impact: Dissemination, Publication, and Long-Term Research Success
Date & Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Description:
This session focuses on dissemination and long-term impact following completion of a multicenter trial. Faculty will review strategies for abstract and plenary submissions, developing high-impact manuscripts, structuring post-hoc analyses responsibly, and positioning results for maximum visibility within academic and professional societies. The session will also address how successful trials can serve as a foundation for sustained scholarly productivity.
Participants will learn how to translate multicenter results into durable academic momentum, build a research pipeline beyond a single project, foster collaborative data-sharing relationships, and leverage prior successes to strengthen future funding applications and career advancement.
Session 6: What Works (and What Doesn’t) in MITs and MCTs: Real-World Lessons from Experienced PIs
Date & Time: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (CT) / 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Description:
This interactive, panel-based session features experienced principal investigators from the EAST MCT and AAST MIT programs discussing the dos and don’ts of leading multicenter and investigator-initiated trials. Through a moderated conversation, panelists will address common challenges, practical decision points, and lessons learned from running successful MITs and MCTs.
Participants will gain insight into what makes a proposal competitive, how junior faculty can prepare to lead their first MIT or MCT, strategies for building collaborative teams across institutions, and key steps to take in the year prior to proposing a study. The session will also highlight how to identify mentors within EAST and AAST networks and reflect on what experienced PIs wish they had known before leading their first multicenter project.
Have questions or need assistance? Please e-mail Rachel Dixon, EAST's Association Manager at [email protected].