Supporting COA Authors in a Changing World

Dan Herron Vice President of Digital Health at RWS 26 Sep 2025

2 minutes read

Publishing a Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) instrument is a significant achievement—but it’s rarely the end of the journey. For many authors, the ongoing work of ensuring their measures remain accessible, relevant, and scientifically robust can be just as challenging as their initial development.

As the clinical research landscape evolves with digital technologies, global regulations, and increasing trial complexity, COA authors face new hurdles that require thoughtful solutions.

The Challenges Authors Face

From our work with COA authors and sponsors, three common priorities consistently emerge:

1. Simplifying Access and Licensing

Authors want their measures to be used widely in clinical research, but they also need reassurance that usage is managed responsibly. Ensuring appropriate licensing management and distribution not safeguards the scientific integrity of their work. Having their COA managed by a third-party reduces administrative burden and minimizes the risk of misuse.

2. Future-Proofing for Digital Use

Electronic COA (eCOA) is no longer an add-on mode of administration; it’s an expectation in today’s clinical trials. If an instrument cannot be adapted effectively for digital platforms, it risks being excluded from protocols. Preserving scientific accuracy while optimizing for multiple devices and interfaces is now critical to long-term COA relevance.

3. Ensuring Recognition and Visibility

With hundreds of questionnaires available and sponsors moving at record speed, authors often worry that their contributions may be overlooked or misattributed. Maintaining author visibility is essential for ensuring their work continues to make an impact, and it can lead to increased opportunities for collaboration and future authorship opportunities.

How RWS Supports Authors

At RWS, we believe COA developers should not face these challenges alone. By bridging the gap between researchers, sponsors, and technology providers, we help ensure that copyrighted COAs are not only utilized properly, but also that they evolve in ways that keep pace with modern trial needs.

Our support spans the full lifecycle of an instrument:

Licensing and distribution management – streamlining the process for both authors and sponsors while ensuring proper safeguards are in place.
Translation and digital adaptation – leveraging linguistic validation expertise, eCOA implementation guidance, and AI-driven solutions to ensure that measures can be deployed globally across electronic platforms without compromising data-collecting integrity.
Visibility and recognition – amplifying the reach of validated measures so authors’ contributions remain central to patient-centered research.

Why It Matters

When COA authors are supported, everyone benefits. Sponsors gain access to validated, ready-to-use measures; trials move faster with fewer barriers; and, most importantly, patients are assured that the tools used to capture their experiences are both scientifically rigorous and culturally appropriate.

At RWS, we see ourselves as partners in this mission: safeguarding the integrity of COAs, supporting the people who create them, and helping ensure their impact endures in the evolving landscape of clinical research.

To find out how we partner with authors in the COA licensing process, click here

Dan Herron

Vice President of Digital Health at RWS

Dan Herron plays a pivotal role in leading the company's dynamic go-to-market organization. With a keen focus on strategic initiatives and cultivating robust customer relationships, Dan spearheads efforts to bring innovative technology solutions to the forefront, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide. Dan's passion for advancements in digital health drives RWS towards excellence and forward-thinking solutions in the industry.

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