In a recent interview with E.B. McLindon, CEO of Helios Clinical Research and Director at the Association for Multi-Site Research Corporations (AMRC), McLindon shared his perspective on the mindset needed in the research industry: “If you’re not going to deliver quality in a clinical trial site, there’s no reason to get out of bed in the morning.”
And E.B. should know. With more than twenty years in the industry, he remains deeply committed to delivering quality trials backed by clean data that advance treatments to improve and extend the quality of life for patients.
“The ultimate delivery in a clinical trial is the quality data that supports physicians and keeps patients safe,” McLindon says. “Quality flows from data,” he stresses.
E.B. McLindon, CEO of Helios Clinical Research and Director at the Association for Multi-Site Research Corporations (AMRC)
Helios on patient-centered oncology care and addressing ‘One-and-Done’
Like many in the industry, McLindon found his way into clinical trials via an unorthodox path. “We all get into research in some weird and twisted way,” he laughs. “It was total happenstance.”.
Before founding Helios, McLindon was a senior vice president at ICON plc, where he led the development of their site and patient strategy, including managing their global research site network, global patient recruitment and retention services, and developing solutions for decentralized clinical trials (DCT).
As the author of numerous white papers focusing on patient engagement, site support, and technology deployment for DCTs, McLindon also co-founded Accelovance, a U.S.-based clinical site network that was recognized as the Best Vaccine Clinical Research Organization at the World Vaccine Congress in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Now, in 2025, Helios has been nominated for ‘Best Clinical Trial Company’.
As CEO of Helios, he oversees more than 25 clinical sites across the country. His strategic vision includes expanding its presence across middle America, focusing on therapeutic areas that matter most to these communities, such as oncology, metabolic diseases, pediatrics, and dermatology.
Helios embraces the multi-site model, believing it enhances trial quality, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. With eight centers dedicated to research and an additional 17 groups embedded in physician practices, McLindon and his team relish the opportunity to conduct clinical trials. They also aim to “bring research to the front door” for physicians, providing training and resources so they’re prepared and know what to expect.
The Helios approach was evidenced by a March 2025 announcement celebrating a new strategic partnership with The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation in Florida –– a collaboration dedicated to advancing clinical research and enhancing patient care.
“By combining Helios’ expertise in clinical research solutions with The Oncology Institute of Hope and Innovation’s patient-centered approach to oncology care, we are setting a new standard for integrating research and treatment,” Helios said in a press announcement.
Joining as a founding member of ARMC aligns perfectly with McLindon’s vision to help advance clinical trial research, quality, and efficiency. He’s enthusiastic about the organization’s opportunity to help educate sites and sponsors about the benefits of multi-site organizations and how to leverage them to elevate trials by promoting best practices and addressing chronic challenges. “We’ve been fighting the same fight for twenty years,” he says, noting that patient and doctor recruitment levels in clinical trials remain largely unchanged while the same challenges persist at a site level.
“We’re trying to give a voice to clinical trial sites of all shapes and sizes but also educate CROs and Sponsors on how to use the infrastructure we’re building,” he adds. Helios devotes significant resources to educating physicians and helping them prepare to enter and remain in research. It’s part of the Helios and broader multi-site commitment to address the industry’s chronic ‘one and done’ issue where studies suggest many Principal Investigators (PIs) don’t go onto a second trial. This often happens because they don’t fully understand the time, complexity, and resource requirements of running clinical research.
Helios, like other AMRC members, demonstrates how a structured, scalable approach to site operations improves clinical research. By centralizing administration, standardizing operations, and building dedicated specialist teams, MCRCs enhance data quality, improve patient safety, and streamline operations — ensuring trials are conducted with greater efficiency and reliability.
