The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of patient-centric approaches in clinical research, prompting a reevaluation of traditional methods and the exploration of innovative strategies. This panel presentation will discuss the lessons learned from the pandemic and the integration of Team Science and the Science of Team Science concepts to improve clinical research and public/patient engagement. The FDA has long been committed to making clinical trials more patient-centric, with initiatives such as the Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) program, Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO), and the adoption of digital health technologies and minimally invasive biomarkers. Furthermore, recent efforts have focused on decentralizing trials and building community-based clinical trial infrastructure to bring trials closer to patients. Drawing from the fields of Team Science and transdisciplinary research and cutting-edge policy and guidance from the FDA, this panel will explore the creation of effective science teams that include patients as core members, ensuring that their perspectives are integrated throughout the research process. Using case studies from select NIH-funded Clinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA) centers and PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) across the US, the panel will highlight experiences in incorporating patients into research teams from the inception of a project through to dissemination. Additionally, the panel will showcase efforts from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research that have empowered patients to become more engaged partners in clinical research. The diverse panel of experts, which will include a patient representative, intends to provide a overview of the current state of patient-centric clinical research. Drawing from their unique experiences and perspectives, this panel will offer valuable insights, strategies and best practices for enhancing patient engagement and collaboration throughout the scientific process. Key lessons learned should be transferrable to other science teams engaged in collaboratively solving public health problems. By examining the lessons learned from the pandemic and the integration of Team Science principles, this panel aims to provide valuable insights and strategies for enhancing patient-centric clinical research, ultimately benefiting patients and the broader science of team science community.