The process of site selection for clinical trials has evolved significantly in recent years. This made the use of clinical research site networks increasingly popular strategy for efficiently conducting multi-site oncology studies in Europe. These networks offer numerous advantages for clinical trial site selection, but choosing the right partners can be challenging.
In this article we look at the common traits of high-quality clinical research site networks, provide critical evaluation criteria, and offer strategies for successful partnerships to streamline clinical trial site selection.
Advantages of partnering with well-established site networks
While not universally true for all networks, some have demonstrated the ability to initiate studies more quickly than traditional models. This can potentially lead to faster study startup times, particularly because sites within a network often have similar (quick) timelines, and multiple sites can be initiated simultaneously. Clinical research site networks often have access to larger patient pools, increasing the likelihood of meeting recruitment targets and providing good enrollment potential.
- By typically including pre-vetted sites with proven track records, networks minimize the risk of non-enrolling sites.
- It is important to note that not all studies are interesting for all sites in the network. Some may accept the study, while others may not, depending on the studies they are currently running, their patient populations, and their needs at that moment.
- Centralized contracting and activation can streamline administrative processes and reduce startup timelines.
- Established central Points of Contact (POCs) and standardized processes enhance communication efficiency and operational consistency across sites.
Networks often include high-profile investigators and institutions, providing access to qualified sites and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), which adds credibility to the study. Some networks specialize in particular oncology phases or indications, offering deep expertise and established patient populations, building a reputation for excellence in specific cancer types.
Key considerations for assessing potential clinical research site network partners
Some networks focus exclusively on early-phase oncology studies, which can be advantageous for certain trial types, making therapeutic focus and specialization an important consideration. Evaluating the network's history in terms of enrollment, data quality, and regulatory compliance provides insight into their track record of performance.
While not all networks offer faster timelines, some have proven track records of efficient study initiation, so start-up timelines should be examined. It's crucial to look for networks with a history of meeting or exceeding enrollment targets when considering trial recruitment rates.
- Data integrity: Ensure the network has robust processes for maintaining high-quality data across sites.
- Compliance: Verify the network's ability to adhere to local and international regulatory requirements.
Some networks offer flexibility in site selection in clinical trials, allowing sponsors to select specific sites within the network rather than mandating participation across all sites. Often, sites within a network decide themselves which site will participate in, depending on the site-specific needs at the time. When evaluating networks, it's important to understand how well they maintain standardized procedures across their member sites to ensure consistency of processes.
Lastly, consider how well the network's locations align with your study's needs and target patient populations when assessing geographic distribution.
What are some top oncology clinical research site networks?
Some notable examples of successful oncology clinical research site networks are START and NEXT, which are members of the Precision Site Network. Across all of these networks, meaningful expansion is the trend—carefully evaluating new locations based on strategic factors rather than simply aiming for broad geographic coverage.
START Network
Founded with a focus on early-phase oncology trials, START has established itself as a leader in the field. With multiple sites across several countries, START offers a centralized infrastructure that facilitates efficient study conduct. Their success metrics often outperform industry averages.
NEXT Network
NEXT Oncology is a premier network of Phase I cancer research clinics with locations in the United States, Spain., and Brazil. The network focuses on early-phase clinical trials, utilizing a centralized infrastructure to streamline study processes. NEXT Oncology is committed to pioneering new treatments and enhancing patient care through groundbreaking cancer research.
Precision Site Network
The Precision Site Network is a curated network of high-performing sites with broad capabilities, including targeted expertise in oncology, CNS, rare disease, and pediatrics. With almost 100 sites across 15 countries, PSN offers a blend of fast-starting community sites, independent research sites, and academic centers, which help accelerate startup timelines in North America and Europe.
Tips for engaging oncology site networks
- Determine mutual benefits: Understand what the network seeks to gain from the partnership and align it with your goals.
- Be transparent in negotiations: Open communication builds trust and sets the foundation for a productive relationship.
- Respect their independence: Recognize that networks often have established processes and may not be able to accommodate all sponsor-specific requests.
- Understand priorities and constraints: Each network has its own focus areas and limitations; aligning your expectations accordingly is crucial.
- Develop early contacts and nurture relationships: Building rapport with network leaders can facilitate smoother collaborations.
- Explore creative risk/reward partnerships: Consider innovative contract structures that incentivize performance and align interests. For instance, some networks offer pre-negotiated clinical trial agreements and payment terms, which can significantly speed up the contracting process and, consequently, start-up timelines.
Working with an established network platform can offer additional efficiencies by providing credentialing and oversight of member networks, a vetting process to ensure quality and performance standards, access to a broad, geographically diverse set of sites, and support services to facilitate study conduct.
How to find oncology research sites and partners in Europe
When evaluating potential partners, take a close look at their therapeutic specialization, proven performance metrics, and centralized infrastructure. Accelerator groups like the Precision Site Network offer high degrees of confidence and efficiency with a pre-vetted cohort of top-performing sites that have the potential to accelerate study timelines and improve overall trial performance.
Carefully consider these factors when approaching future network partnerships and be sure speak with us about upcoming oncology clinical trials in the European market.
