Bridging Gaps In Neurology Trials: How Community-Based Research Models Expand Access

By Miranda McLaren

Neurological diseases now represent the leading cause of disability worldwide, with trial activity in this area growing rapidly — neurology studies increased 76% between 2015 and 2024 alone. Yet despite this growth, enrollment and retention remain persistent barriers, particularly in neurodegenerative disease trials. Traditional site-centric models often exacerbate these challenges: research activity is concentrated in a handful of urban hubs, creating intense competition for limited patient pools and leaving rural and underserved populations with little or no access to trials. For patients with mobility limitations or cognitive decline, traveling long distances to academic medical centers further increases the burden of participation. These site-level inefficiencies ripple into slower enrollment, longer study durations, and higher costs.

Community-based research models are emerging as a powerful complement to traditional infrastructure, bringing studies directly to where patients live. Mobile clinicians and flexible site alternatives help overcome geographic, logistical, and socioeconomic barriers, expanding opportunities for participation while easing the demands placed on study partners and caregivers. By shifting the trial experience closer to the community, sponsors can diversify recruitment, improve retention, and generate more representative data. As neurology research continues to accelerate, the adoption of community-based solutions will be essential to closing critical gaps in access, efficiency, and equity across the research ecosystem.