Unlocking Success in Obesity Clinical Trials: Mastering Patient Engagement and Retention

Join us to gain exclusive insights from industry experts on reducing dropout rates, optimizing protocol design, and ensuring timely, high-quality trial delivery—whether you are pioneering a first-in-class GLP-1 or gearing up for a competitive Phase III program.

What You Will Learn

• Discover the real reasons behind patient dropout and effective strategies to keep them engaged in long-duration obesity trials.
• Identify and mitigate retention risk factors unique to GLP-1 and metabolic trials, including placebo perception, side effects, and 'food noise.'
• Learn how to streamline platforms and minimize protocol friction to reduce site and patient burden.
• Understand the critical role of mental health and behavioral support in trial protocols and why it is often overlooked.
• Gain practical, real-world strategies for site success, from screening to dose flexibility to post-trial transition.

Meet Experts 

Shipra Patel, MD
Global Therapeutic Area Section Head, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Parexel

Dr. Patel is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist with over a decade of experience in clinical trial execution and medical monitoring. As Parexel’s Section Head for Endocrinology, she leads Parexel’s global strategy for obesity and metabolic disease programs, partnering with sponsors to design and deliver GLP-1 and next-generation obesity trials. Her background includes oversight of Phase II–IV diabetes trials, protocol training, safety data review, and therapeutic area leadership. A former academic endocrinologist at UNC Chapel Hill, she brings deep medical expertise and a practical, sponsor-aligned perspective to obesity protocol development.

Faith Holmes, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Elligo Health Research 

Dr. Holmes brings more than 30 years of experience in direct patient care and over a decade in medical practice management to her role as Elligo’s Chief Medical Officer. Her board certification and background in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine inform a research approach rooted in compassion and operational excellence. As a Principal Investigator across multiple therapeutic areas, she has led diagnostic and interventional trials within Elligo’s decentralized model, at their Austin Clinical Research Center, as well as providing oversight and leadership to PIs at community sites within Elligo’s Integrated Research Organization.

Joe Nadglowski
President & CEO, Obesity Action Coalition

Joe Nadglowski is President and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), a nonprofit organization formed in 2005 dedicated to elevating and empowering individuals affected by obesity through education, advocacy, and support. A frequent speaker and author, Mr. Nadglowski is especially passionate about access to obesity treatments, tackling weight bias, and sharing his own experiences with obesity. He has more than 25 years of experience working in patient advocacy, public policy, and education, and is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Ioana Eniu
Senior Director, Operational Strategist, General Medicine and Neuroscience, Parexel

Ms. Eniu is a clinical research operational leader and patient advocate with over 17 years of global trial experience spanning CROs, study sites, and sponsors. She has led feasibility, regulatory, and operational delivery in early- and late-phase studies in neurology, endocrinology, and rare diseases. At Parexel, she supports the design and delivery of metabolic programs, focusing on reducing patient burden and improving trial feasibility through site-centered planning and behavioral insight.