In a multicenter trial, which term refers to a committee organized by a sponsor to coordinate the conduct of the trial?

• A. Coordinating Investigator
• B. Coordinating Committee
• C. CRO
• D. Contract

Answer: (B)

In multicenter trials, a sponsor typically sets up a coordinating body to oversee and align activities across all sites. This is called the Coordinating Committee. Its purpose is to keep the trial running consistently: standardizing procedures, ensuring uniform data collection, handling protocol amendments, and making joint decisions about recruitment, safety reporting, and overall study progress.

Think of it as the sponsor’s governance group for the trial across sites, bringing together representatives from participating centers and the coordinating center to ensure everyone follows the same plan and timelines.

Coordinating Investigator refers to a person at the center or coordinating site who oversees trial activities, but not a sponsor-formed committee. A CRO is an external organization contracted to perform trial tasks, not a committee. A contract is just the legal agreement governing the trial.