UCSF researchers have long struggled with paying research study participants efficiently. Clinical studies have thousands of individual participants. Historically, participants have been paid in a variety of ways—petty cash, gift cards, expense reimbursements, and sometimes directly by study partners and sponsors. The lack of a common process has made participant payment a hardship for study teams and confusing for payees. 

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has responded to the need for a better, more centralized means of paying research study participants by launching the UCSF Greenphire ClinCard Beta program. In partnership with Greenphire (the industry leading clinical trial compensation provider), SCM will now offer research teams the ability to put funds onto reloadable Visa™ debit cards. SCM will administer the study funds designated for participants and will work directly with Greenphire to set up studies in their secure online system. Study teams will enroll individuals and approve/release payment using our customized Greenphire portal. 

Since fall 2023, a collaborative team across SCM spanning Business Systems, Financial Operations, and Finance and Administration have been working together to implement the UCSF Greenphire ClinCard program. From navigating the complexities of creating documentation to ensuring Institutional Review Board approval, the team tackled the user experience and technical hurdles. 

As of June, six pilot studies were up and running in Greenphire. Their overwhelmingly positive outcomes have signaled readiness for launch of the official program. A full rollout of the UCSF Greenphire ClinCard beta program will take place the week of July 22. This beta uses interim processes but may have changes in the future.

Bookmark the following page to access program updates as they become available: UCSF Greenphire ClinCard