Christy Frey has spent nearly two decades helping research move forward—ethically, efficiently, and always with people in mind. As senior director of IRB services at Advarra, she leads the teams responsible for running IRB meetings and developing consent forms that sit at the heart of every study. Her path into research started early, long before most people know what an IRB is, and has evolved alongside Advarra itself. In this Q&A, Christy shares how her early experiences shaped her career, why Advarra’s mission resonates so deeply with her, and what excites her most about the future of research and technology.
What first drew you to research, and how did those early experiences shape your career?
I honestly grew up wanting to work in research, even before I fully understood what that meant. In high school, I had free blocks and volunteered at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. Half the time I was playing video games with kids who were sick, and the other half I was helping in their regulatory affairs department. They let me sit in on board meetings, so I learned what an IRB was when I was about 16. That exposure stuck with me. After high school, I ended up working at an IRB full time because I already had regulatory experience on my resume—which is rare at that age. I was 18, going on 19, and I’ve been in this space ever since.
Why did Advarra feel like the right place to continue—and grow—your work in research?
What really resonated with me was the focus on quality and ethics without losing sight of efficiency. You can’t rush ethics, but you can streamline everything around it. That’s what we’ve always tried to do here. When something comes in for review, my team works hard to identify and resolve issues before it even reaches the board. That way, the board can focus on making thoughtful, ethical decisions without unnecessary delays. Over the years, I’ve also seen Advarra invest heavily in customer-first, white-glove service—meeting with clients early, offering advisory reviews, and really partnering with them. That alignment between mission, process, and people is why I’ve stayed.
How do you and your team go above and beyond for customers, and ultimately patients?
A big part of our job is making ourselves available. At my level, I get on calls with sites, sponsors, and institutions to talk through tough issues, especially when email just isn’t cutting it. We’ll stop what we’re doing to have real conversations and help people understand where the board is coming from. Internally, we’re also very collaborative. We don’t work in silos—we figure out who’s best positioned to handle an issue and get it there quickly. The faster and clearer we can be, the faster studies can move forward responsibly. That efficiency directly impacts patients who are waiting for access to research.
What excites you most about using the platform today and what’s coming next?
I’ve been around long enough to remember when everything was paper-based, so having everything centralized in an electronic platform is huge for efficiency. It allows boards to review materials faster and more collaboratively. What excites me most about what’s coming next: fewer interruptions, better analytics for clients, and the ability to improve things quickly when we see an opportunity. Looking ahead, I’m especially excited about incorporating AI to help streamline some of our manual processes. That kind of innovation will let us keep improving how we support ethical research.
Want to learn more? Check out this overview of Advarra’s review services or contact us to ask an expert a specific question.
