Working hard, head down and concentrating on facing the next task or challenge, it can sometimes be easy to forget how important clinical trials are in the big picture of human health and their positive impact on alleviating suffering and prolonging the quality of life.
Lori Wright, Chief Executive Officer at Evolution Research Group (ERG), tries to always keep that front of mind. “If you get a letter from a patient that says, ‘Thank you so much, you made a difference, and I feel so much better at the end of a trial’…I mean, there’s nothing more rewarding than that,” she says. “So many people really do benefit from clinical trials, just think of all those who are uninsured or simply do not have a family support system, research is an important option.”
From Statistical Typist to Industry Leader
For more than 40 years, Wright has devoted her professional energies to advancing clinical trials and helping patients. Like many who thrive today in the industry, she entered it rather haphazardly, answering an ad to type statistical reports for a CRO while still in college.
She became administrative assistant to the CEO two years later, then created a dual role as Director of Business Development and HR, two positions that had not existed before. During the fallow periods, she pursued new business and during the peaks, she was recruiting talent. “I learned about so many aspects of how CROs work during that time and am so grateful for that first industry role,” she recalls.
Later, she was recruited by a psychiatric KOL (key opinion leader) to run his business, which included an upscale private practice, a low-cost clinic, and a clinical trials program, where she also became a rater. She still misses the direct interaction with patients suffering from mental illness and seeing many of them improve through treatment or during their participation in a clinical trial.
Specializing in Complex, Early-Phase Psychiatry
Psychiatry remained a core interest when she founded ERG. They’ve participated in studies leading to ~27 drug approvals over the last three years, in indications including schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, acute and chronic pain, and obesity, to name a few. ERG’s focus is on early-phase, inpatient, biomarker trials, as well as late phase trials requiring confinement or complex procedures. Their clinical research units have over 450 beds across the United States, with 94% of their first quarter 2025 contract signings requiring inpatient periods of over seven weeks.
A Collaborative Vision for the Research Ecosystem
For Wright, another appeal of working in clinical trials is the quality of the professionals around her. “After 44 years in the industry, I still learn something new daily from the experts within our organization and from our clients. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by intelligent people with expertise in fields like medicine, operations, biostatistics, finance, among others, who are truly collaborative and enjoy sharing their ideas and experiences, which I consider a gift” she says.
Looking ahead, she’s excited that ERG is a part of AMRC, believing that while many members are “friendly competitors” all are eager to improve the entire clinical trial ecosystem. “There’s plenty of room for all of us to grow and expand our services, but by collaborating as peers to inform sponsors, physicians, our CRO clients, and other stakeholders on how we are investing in capabilities and staff, focusing on quality KPIs and striving to improve every day, it allows us to do so more strategically.”
ERG was one of the first organizations to embrace the network model, joining multiple sites under common ownership with a primary commercial focus on clinical research. Founded in 2014 through a merger of several clinical sites and one consulting group, ERG now owns and operates a portfolio of 20 research units across the US.
