Mastering Precision Oncology Start-Up: Reducing Screening Delays

By Csilla Szalay, Senior Feasibility & Strategy Leader, Laura Cerny, Senior Director of Launch Excellence, and Charlotte Moser, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer

Breakthrough science loses momentum when operational barriers slow it down. Biomarker‑driven oncology trials offer significant promise, but they also introduce complexities that can hinder progress. Complex screening requirements, specialized diagnostic testing, and narrowly defined patient populations often create bottlenecks that delay site activation and stall enrollment.

Practical strategies can help streamline start-up and accelerate enrollment. These include prioritizing sites with proven molecular testing capabilities, strengthening partnerships with diagnostic providers, and tightening operational workflows to enable faster activation and more efficient patient identification and enrollment.

By addressing these challenges proactively, sponsors can reduce start‑up timelines, strengthen enrollment performance, and move targeted therapies into the clinic faster. With thoughtful planning and strong cross‑functional coordination, teams can maintain scientific and regulatory standards while achieving the operational efficiency required in today’s fast‑moving precision oncology landscape.