The clinical research industry is grappling with mounting challenges as investigator sites face unprecedented technological and administrative burdens while striving to meet evolving demands for diverse patient representation and efficient trial execution.
Growing Technology Burden at Research Sites
According to recent data from Clinical Trial Site Networks, 60% of research sites are currently juggling more than 20 different software technologies, creating a complex web of passwords, usernames, and training requirements. Two-thirds of sites report that technology setup and training have become more burdensome compared to five years ago.
"We know in the traditional medical environment that doctors are already feeling overburdened, and that is amplified, certainly, within clinical research in terms of the fact that sites are responsible for holding to such high, rigorous standards," explains Batisha Anson, global head of patient diversity and health equity at Syneos Health.
The Human Element in Clinical Research
Mark Scullion, CEO of Atlas Clinical Research, emphasizes that successful clinical trials depend on understanding the fundamental motivations of physician-investigators. "Before they're investigators, they're doctors," Scullion notes. "What makes a person become a doctor is the place where we start. Fundamentally, when someone becomes a doctor, yes, they're choosing a career, but they're choosing a career in which they want to help."
Balancing Technology and Partnership
While technological solutions are essential for modern clinical trials, experts stress that tools alone cannot drive success. The key lies in developing strong partnerships between sites, sponsors, and CROs.
"It's people first," asserts Scullion. "If you get people that are able to talk to each other – 'Who is my partner?', 'What is their name?', 'How do I reach them?', 'What do we talk about?' – if we have people that can interact together, after that is having some shared understanding of what success looks like and being transparent with each other."
Advancing Diversity and Patient-Centricity
The industry is experiencing increased pressure to ensure diverse representation in clinical trials while adapting to new regulatory requirements. AI-powered solutions are emerging to help understand patient populations and improve protocol practices.
"This is not just about social good, it's about advancing health equity globally, but also this allows us to understand how medicines work in different populations," Anson explains. "Patients have to be at the centre of everything that we're doing to really understand scientific integrity, scientific progress, innovation, and certainly back to patient safety."
Future Directions and Solutions
The implementation of decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) and improved data integration systems offers promise for reducing site burden while expanding patient access. However, industry leaders emphasize that any new solutions must be evaluated through the lens of practical benefit.
"Does it help? How much does it help? Whom does it help? If you can't answer those questions, then we're not going to deploy it at all," states Scullion, highlighting the importance of purposeful technology adoption.
As clinical trials become increasingly complex and regulatory requirements evolve, the industry must focus on developing integrated solutions that balance technological advancement with human-centered partnerships to ensure sustainable success in clinical research.
