This month, we spoke to Arthur Imai, President of Harmony United Research, who shared why he thinks patient trust and clear communication are two critical, but often overlooked, factors for successful trial delivery in research sites.
For the second instalment of our ‘Inside the site’ series, we spoke with Arthur Imai, President of Harmony United Research, a clinical research group based on the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. He shared his own journey into clinical trials and highlighted patient trust and clear communication as key factors determining successful trial delivery.
With a career spanning a decade, working in both adult and paediatric trials across nephrology, gastroenterology, and cardiology, Arthur brings a grounded, patient-first perspective to research operations.
How did you get into the clinical research field?
Arthur’s path to clinical research began when he was applying to medical school and his mentor offered him a role as a clinical research coordinator.
“At first, I wasn’t sure what the role would entail. Then he explained the role I’d be playing and it just took off from there. You’re doing the data entry, the charting the sourcing. Then at the same time you’re building real relationships with patients.”
That balance of operational work and human connection is what has kept Arthur in research since 2015.
“You’re with a patient throughout the whole trial – you might be with them and their family every day for a month – and you develop a relationship with them. You get a bit of both worlds, you get admin and you also get patient care. It’s great.”
Trust as the foundation for success
Arthur now oversees all aspects of clinical research at Harmony United, from site feasibility to patient enrolment to closeout. When asked what sets his team apart, trust is the standout.
“Our PI’s [principal investigators] are really close to their patients. Their on-call for them 24/7. That trust is the main thing that drives us to reach our patient goals.”
Bridging language and cultural gaps
Operating in a bilingual, border community presents a unique set of challenges for running clinical trials.
“We’re a border city in Texas, based right on the US-Mexico border. Spanish is the main language spoken here. When patients first hear about clinical trials there can be a language barrier and they don’t understand it. They just think ‘oh I’m a guinea pig and I’m going to be used for something.”
To counter this, the Harmony United team places a strong emphasis on clear, culturally sensitive communication.
“We make sure our staff are fluent in Spanish and really explain exactly what’s going to happen at every visit. That way our patients don’t feel blindsided by anything.”
That’s one reason Arthur is excited about using the Little Journey app for an ongoing trial. All the content is available in US Spanish as another way to ensure families understand what to expect and feel respected.
Supporting families with preparation
When asked about challenges faced by families, Arthur points to the first visit as a recurring pressure point.
“Usually when it’s the initial visit, families assume it will be quick. But the screening visit can be three hours. We have to be very detailed, get their full patient history, and walk through everything about the trial. We want them to understand and make sure they set aside the right amount of time.”
This is where Arthur sees real value in the digital timeline feature of Little Journey’s platform, which shows families where they are in their trial journey and breaks down timings and key information for each visit.
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We're proud to partner with passionate research leaders like Arthur, who are shaping how research is delivered in their communities. Thank you for sharing your story!
Read last month’s interview with Tracey Robinson, Director of Clinical Research at Willis Knighton Health in Shreveport, Louisiana and follow us on LinkedIn to meet more clinical research teams from around the world.
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