The Association of Clinical Research Professionals kicks off its 2015 Global Conference and Exposition later this week.

More than 2,000 clinical research professionals will be in Salt Lake City on Saturday for the start of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals’ 2015 Global Conference and Exposition. On the agenda are networking events and education sessions that address more than a dozen topics critical to the clinical research process.

Association: Association of Clinical Research Professionals

Conference: ACRP 2015 Global Conference and Exhibition

Venue: Salt Palace Convention Center

Rebecca Skloot, bestselling author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is the opening general session speaker. Her book tells the story of Lacks, whose cells were harvested without her consent following her death and contributed to scientific advancements as varied as the polio vaccine, treatments for cancers and viruses, and in-vitro fertilization. Skloot will use the book as a backdrop to discuss questions about race, class, and bioethics in America. Three other items worth noting:

Journey mapping. ACRP provides attendees with two templates to help them before and after the conference. The first is the Session & Workshop Itinerary Template, which allows them to enter the names of the sessions they plan to attend. (ACRP notes this is a good tools for prospective attendees who need to get supervisor approval to go.) The second is the Post-Conference Report Template, which lets ateendees list the top-10 insights they gained at the conference, the 10 sessions they will share with their teams through the Online Conference Library, and actions they can take at work based on what they learned.

Learning options. This year, Exploratory Learning Sessions will be introduced. These roundtable-style group discussions are designed to foster the sharing of experiences and information. Topics include how to build a culture of ethics and compliance and the future role of clinical research professionals.

Giving back. Attendees can take part in the Medical Heroes Appreciation 5K. This run/walk celebrates those who participate in clinical research trials that lead to medical advancements and ultimately save lives. All proceeds will help provide education and outreach to patients and their families. Plus, the Greater Gift Initiative will offer a vaccine to a child in need on behalf of every registrant.

If you want to conduct your own research on the meeting, ACRP’s social channels, including Facebook, Twitter (#ACRP2015), and Flickr, will give you plenty of details.

(iStock/Thinkstock)