News Release: New Report Highlights Site Perspectives on Becoming Sponsor or CRO of Choice

Princeton, NJ – Including clinical research sites in regulatory inspection preparedness planning is among the most effective actions sponsors and CROs can take to build positive relationships with sites, according to a new white paper, “Becoming a Sponsor/CRO of Choice: The Site Perspective,” released today by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and The Avoca Group.

“This new research shows strong support for the importance of including sites in inspection preparation plans, as it not only mitigates compliance risk, but also has positive influence over site relationships,” says Patricia Leuchten, Founder and CEO, The Avoca Group.

The research was conducted by The Avoca Group over an 8-week period in early 2018. In this research, investigational sites were asked to rate sponsor and CRO attributes (including responsiveness to questions, knowledge of the study protocol, and frequency of CRA turnover, among others) and study execution (including setting of realistic patient recruitment goals, design of CRF, and ease of EDC systems, etc.).

“This research further validates the importance of the site perspective – and input – in the efficient and effective delivery of new treatments and therapies,” says Jim Kremidas, ACRP Executive Director.

Other key findings:

• Sites expressed satisfaction across all attributes of study design assessed. On a relative basis, consideration of the patient perspective and ease of execution of the trial ranked lowest.
• Study closeout, inspection preparation support, and communication showed strong correlation with Net Promoter Score.
• Sites are looking for the same things in the sponsors and CROs that they interact with: good communication; sounds and thoughtful protocol design; and quality partners.

The white paper concludes with four key recommendations for sponsors and CROs to become “partners of choice” with sites:

• Focus on protocol quality and design studies with site feasibility in mind, specifically focusing on entry criteria and schedule of visits and procedures.
• Ensure that staff are adequately trained and knowledgeable regarding the protocol and indication under study.
• Commit to provide sites with clear, concise, and timely communication, and be available and responsive to questions and/or concerns.
• Support the site through the lifecycle of the study, including study close-out and inspection preparation.

Click the image below to download the full white paper:

About The Avoca Group

The Avoca Group is a life sciences consulting firm dedicated to improving quality and compliance in the clinical trial execution process. Integrating deep subject matter expertise with industry-leading approaches and technology, the company tailors solutions that help companies build industry-leading quality management, inspection readiness, and effective oversight systems into existing processes.

The company operates the Avoca Quality Consortium® (AQC), a collaborative comprised of nearly 100 pharma, biotech, CRO and clinical service provider companies with the shared objective of elevating clinical trial quality and execution.

The Avoca Group’s mission is to have a positive impact on all clinical trials by helping clinical research companies increase quality, ensure compliance, and improve efficiency so that medicines can reach patients faster.

About ACRP

ACRP supports clinical research professionals through membership, training and development resources, and certification. Founded in 1976, ACRP is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization with more than 13,000 members who work in clinical research in more than 70 countries. ACRP’s vision is that clinical research is performed ethically, responsibly, and professionally everywhere in the world. ACRP’s mission is to promote excellence in clinical research. www.acrpnet.org