How to Write a Letter of Introduction for Clinical Research

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By Sarah Wilson CCRP
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Write a Letter of Introduction for Clinical Research

Writing a Letter of Introduction is a good way to let pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organizations (also called Clinical Research Organizations or CRO) know that you have started. The letter should be honest, short, and specific. Consider these points when writing your Letter of Introduction to the research community.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Letterhead
Word Processing software

Step 1

Start the letter with an appropriate attention catching title.

If you are a doctor setting up for pharmaceutical research; consider the heading “New Clinical Investigator” or “New Principal Investigator”. If the center focuses on a particular disease, consider adding it to the heading. Some examples might be “Introducing a New Cardiovascular Research Center” or a New Internal Medicine Research Center. The point is to make sure you catch the reader’s attention so that it is not immediately classified as junk mail.
Step 2

Emphasize the research staff’s qualifications.

Now that you have the reader’s attention, tell them what they need to know. State the facts about the center’s Clinical Investigator. Include the number of years the doctor conducted research as a sub-investigator, principal investigator or clinician. List number of clinical trials and disease treatments conducted in the past. If the doctor is new to research, emphasize the clinical research conducted during the internship. If the doctor worked with or is affiliated in some way with a current hot topic item, reference it in the letter. Identify the number of nurses and doctors available and if the clinical research coordinator is certified.
Step 3

Highlight the research center’s greatest attributes first.

Hopefully, the research center is strategically located near a hospital and with easy patient access. Include the size of the facility and if it is capable of conducting Phase I-IV clinical trials. Briefly describe the available medical equipment and existing processes and procedures for clinical trial support. Remember to emphasize the center’s ability to provide quality data to the sponsor.
Step 4

Put a number on patient population.

Highlight the number of patients already in your database. For example, if you have a thriving practice with several physicians, you can have thousands of patients available for assessment. Obtain the numerical value for the patients who exist in the practice and add it to the letter of introduction.
Step 5

Contact information is essential.

Add the contact information and make sure it is correct and functional. Mail or email the letter of introduction to the right person. Make sure the letter is sent to the person who is responsible for authorizing the use of your service.