3 Tips for Improving Your Clinical Trial Site Selection Process

3 Tips for Improving Your Clinical Trial Site Selection Process

3 Tips for Improving Your Clinical Trial Site Selection Process

Selecting a site (or sites) to host your next clinical trial is crucial to your success, but the process is often time-consuming and filled with obstacles. Studies show that site selection takes about eight months on average, and sometimes longer, depending on the type of site (e.g. academic vs. independent). Regardless, the longer site selection takes, the further the trial’s start is pushed back.

Unfortunately, there’s no secret formula for site selection. However, there are steps you can take to streamline the process and prevent some of the decision fatigue that goes with it. Here are X tips for improving your clinical trial site selection process.

Step 1: Be clear about what you’re looking for

Every clinical trial has a specific focus and goal, so using that information as a foundation for your site selection process is important. For instance, Phase I trials typically recruit less than 100 participants, while Phase II trials can involve up to 300 participants. Similarly, orphan drug trials focus on a small subset of the population, while non-orphan drug trials can draw from a larger patient pool.

Before selecting a site, make time to identify your organization’s “must haves”. This looks different for every sponsor, but factors worth considering include:

    • Infrastructure (E.g., The site’s facilities, and equipment. Is there a fully stocked lab on the premises? What about adequate patient waiting rooms? Offices for the researchers? etc..)
    • Staff expertise (Ideally, the site’s staff should have experience in your therapeutic specialization.)
    • Patient Population (A trial site should be easily accessible for target participants.) 
    • Regulatory Compliance (Does the trial site have a history of adhering to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) quality standards? Have they been audited by the FDA? etc.) 
  • History of Success (If a site has a history of successful trial completions, it’s a good indication that it’s safe to move forward.)

Another important, but often overlooked consideration, is a site’s financial health. Since clinical trial costs average in the tens of millions of dollars, ensuring a site has the financial means to support your trial to completion is essential. 

Step 2: Research local market conditions

Once you know what you want in a trial site, it’s time to delve further into your research. Specifically, you want to explore local market conditions and the potential economic initiatives of a trial location. Here are three key areas to focus on:

  • Patient demographics. Your trial will never get off the ground if you can’t recruit patients from your target demographic. When homing in on a trial site, be sure the surrounding area has an adequate population and age distribution. Likewise, confirm members of that population have the specific diseases or medical conditions you plan on researching.
  • Consider local healthcare infrastructure. Patient recruitment and retention are much easier if a strong network of healthcare infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, clinics, and specialized healthcare facilities) is in place. Further, these entities can help you identify and market to potential trial participants. 
  • Competitve landscape. Many clinical trial sites serve multiple organizations. If another similar trial is taking place at the same location, it could affect your ability to recruit participants and conduct research. 
  1. Step 3: Let patient experience be your north star. 

Things like finances, infrastructure, and facilities are often the focus of trial site selection. While these aspects are undoubtedly important they’re only one part of the equation. A site can have all the bells and whistles and still turn participants off. Consider that up to 30% of trial participants drop out in ideal conditions.

Although it adds an extra layer of research, finding a trial site that provides a patient-friendly experience is worth the extra effort. When trial participants feel welcomed and respected, they’re more likely to stay engaged from start to finish. 

The descriptor ‘patient friendly’ is somewhat vague, but as a general rule of thumb, you want a trial site that’s

  • Easy to find
  • Conveniently located
  • Transparent about costs and insurance coverage
  • Supportive of participants

In addition, you want to make sure the site’s staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Patients should have a clear picture of the trial’s potential risks and benefits before they ever sign up. A trial site that takes a patient-first approach can help you build trust and alleviate participant concerns.

The bottom line

Choosing clinical trial sites takes time and effort. It isn’t glamorous and there’s plenty of risk. Despite these challenges, a clear vision, strong research, and a focus on patient experience can help you narrow down options and find a location that meets your organization’s needs. 

Once you’ve selected a trial site, get in touch. Our clinical trial management services can complement your research efforts, ensuring your study stays on track and within budget. Call (771) 775-0342 or email [email protected]

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