The closing session at the May 2015 International Conference on Dupuytren Disease and Related Diseases in Groningen, The Netherlands, was on the topic of clinical research. The distinguished panel members of this session were Joseph Dias, M.D., Leicester General Hospital, United Kingdom; Charles Eaton, M.D., West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and founder of the Dupuytren Foundation; and Steven Coleman, M.D., Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Clinic, Brisbane, Australia. The session was chaired by Marie A. Badalamente, Ph.D., Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York, USA.

The purpose of the closing session was not only to provide insights by the panel members on clinical research but also to highlight the processes of research and to offer advice on potential obstacles to research.

The chair’s “call to action” began with the following statement “there is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.” The meaning of this statement is fairly simple in terms of clinical research or, indeed, research in general. Research can be a long and protracted process with peaks and valleys of successes vs. failures. Meticulous scientific method and patience for the method are keys to a successful research endeavor. Collaboration is essential. Expert scientific/medical personnel should collaborate nationally and across borders around the world. Appropriate resources, especially funding sources, are necessary to a successful research program.