Istvan Fekete

is a Principal at Attain Partners with more than 13 years of experience in research administration, clinical research operations, research contract negotiations, and artificial intelligence solutions across research operations. He is a nationally recognized subject matter expert in research contracting, with deep expertise spanning clinical trial operations and business process transformation.

At Attain Partners, Istvan leads efforts focused on research contract negotiations, clinical operations consulting, clinical revenue optimization, and the strategic adoption of artificial intelligence in research administration. His work includes designing internal tools, building high-performing teams, and developing partnerships with technology vendors and professional organizations to drive scalable, sustainable growth.

Previously, Istvan held leadership roles, where he built and managed national managed-services programs and developed AI-enabled contract lifecycle management solutions. Earlier in his career at the University of Chicago, he managed the team responsible for complex, high-value research contracts and helped establish institution-wide best practices for clinical trials and research administration.

Istvan is a frequent speaker at national conferences and webinars and regularly publishes thought leadership on research operations, contracting strategy, and emerging technology