We recently connected with Latisha Weaver and have shared our conversation below.

LaTisha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

The real turning point in my career came when I found and joined the social network group Black Women in Clinical Research (BWICR). Being part of this empowering community connected me with trailblazing women in the field and gave me a sense of belonging and purpose I didn’t realize I was missing. It was through BWICR that I discovered not only the depth of my passion for clinical research but also the potential for a much larger impact—one that goes beyond individual projects and focuses on empowering communities that are often left behind.

Joining BWICR broadened my perspective on what’s possible. It gave me the confidence to launch LDM Clinical Research Source, a consulting service designed to support sites in navigating the complexities of clinical trial budget and contract negotiations. But even more importantly, it set me on the path toward my ultimate goal: becoming a site owner in my community. I want to build a research site that serves underrepresented populations, empowering them to make well-informed healthcare decisions by understanding the full spectrum of treatment outcomes.

This journey has taught me that clinical research isn’t just about science or contracts—it’s about representation, advocacy, and access. Thanks to BWICR, I now have the tools, network, and motivation to push forward, ensuring that my work reflects the values of fairness and equity for the communities I aim to serve.

LaTisha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! I’m LaTisha Weaver, the CEO and Founder of LDM Clinical Research Source. With eight years of experience in the clinical research industry, I’ve built a career specializing in budget and clinical trial agreement (CTA) negotiations. My journey into this field began with a role at a Central laboratory, invoicing pharmaceutical companies and Clinical Research Organizations (CROs). From there, I transitioned to a cancer center within an academic institution, where I negotiated budgets and budget terms (including screen failures) for oncology studies. Later, I secured a role with a site management organization (SMO), negotiating budgets and contracts for research sites. It was in this role that I quickly realized how crucial these agreements are—not just for the financial health of research sites, but for the overall success of clinical trials.

At LDM Clinical Research Source, I provide remote consulting services to clinical research sites and site owners. My primary focus is on negotiating budgets and agreements to ensure that sites receive fair compensation for their work while meeting sponsor expectations. I also create justification memos to assist with escalations and resolve issues that may arise during negotiations. This service is especially beneficial to smaller, independent sites that may not have the in-house resources to advocate for themselves effectively.

What sets me apart is my holistic approach—I don’t just negotiate budgets; I ensure that all site-level needs are reflected in every contract. I advocate for my clients, whether they are independent research sites or larger organizations, so they can focus on conducting high-quality research without financial constraints. Additionally, I bring years of experience with clinical trial management systems like OnCore and Realtime, adding operational expertise to the mix.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the personal connection I build with my clients. I understand that negotiations are not just business transactions—they’re about creating long-term relationships and ensuring the sustainability of research. I take pride in helping clients identify areas for financial growth and improvement within their agreements, setting them up for continued success.

In addition to my consulting services, I’m also on a mission to become a site owner in my own community in Rochester, NY. My goal is to empower underrepresented communities by giving them access to clinical trials and educating them about the healthcare options available to them. I firmly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to make informed healthcare decisions and that equitable access to clinical trials is key to achieving that.

The journey to where I am today wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Black Women in Clinical Research (BWICR), a group that has been instrumental in shaping my career and giving me the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship. It’s important to me that I pay that forward by advocating for other underrepresented voices in clinical research.

At the heart of LDM Clinical Research Source is a passion for equity, advocacy, and access—not just for research sites but for the communities that clinical trials aim to serve. Whether you’re a site owner looking for strategic budget negotiation or someone interested in understanding how clinical trials can benefit your community, my goal is to provide services that create positive, sustainable outcomes for everyone involved.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a point in my career when I found myself at a crossroads. I had built a strong foundation in the clinical research industry, focusing on budget negotiations, but I began noticing a trend: sites were not receiving fair compensation for their work, especially smaller, independent ones. Many of these sites struggled to advocate for themselves during negotiations with sponsors and CROs. This realization struck a chord with me, as I knew I had the skill set to bridge this gap and support these sites in a meaningful way.

At that moment, I decided to pivot and launch my own business, LDM Clinical Research Source. It wasn’t an easy decision—moving from a stable career into entrepreneurship required a leap of faith. But I knew that by becoming a consultant, I could focus on empowering sites and ensure they had someone advocating for their financial well-being. This shift allowed me to align my work with my values, putting fairness, sustainability, and advocacy at the center of what I do. The transition wasn’t without its challenges, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I went from being part of the system to creating my own space where I could drive real change.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that exemplifies my resilience came from a particularly difficult time during the early stages of building LDM Clinical Research Source. I was working with a client site that was facing severe budget constraints. The site was crucial to the success of the clinical trial, but the initial budget offered by the sponsor fell far below what was needed to operate sustainably. On top of that, multiple rounds of negotiation were met with pushback from the sponsor—it felt like an uphill battle.

In the middle of this negotiation, personal challenges arose, and I found myself balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with life’s complexities. But I knew I couldn’t afford to give up—for both my client and myself. I leaned on my training, did extensive research, and prepared justification memos to support every request we made. I also reached out to the network I had built through Black Women in Clinical Research (BWICR), seeking advice and support.

In the end, we secured a budget that not only covered the site’s needs but also provided additional resources that ensured long-term sustainability. That experience reaffirmed my belief that with persistence, preparation, and support, obstacles can be overcome. It also strengthened my resolve to advocate for underrepresented sites and reinforced the importance of community and collaboration in this work. Resilience, I’ve learned, is not just about enduring challenges but about growing through them—and this experience showed me that no matter how tough things get, staying committed to your mission will always lead to meaningful outcomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ldmclinicalresearch.com/
• Instagram: ldm_clinicalresearchsource
• Facebook: LDM Clinical Research Source
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ldm-clinical-research-source/

Image Credits

JCPenny’s Photo Studio