Overcoming Enrollment Challenges In Overcrowded Research Landscape

The way that we conduct clinical research has been changing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. What factors are contributing to study enrollment challenges for sites and sponsors? What solutions can we as an industry leverage to overcome those obstacles? As an industry, we are at an inflection point. We can’t keep doing things the way we’ve always done them; we must do better.

Quantifying Challenges

If sites seem busy, know that there are indeed more trials this year than last year. Trial starts for the first three quarters of 2021 are up 25% over 2020. Many sites also face a backlog of studies delayed last year due to the pandemic, so prioritizing trials adds to the challenge.

Staffing takes the #1 spot in surveys regarding study challenges (fig 1.), with a predominant 16-30% turnover rate. Personnel difficulties are followed by budgetary and contractual issues plus pandemic effects on workflow. A lack of resources at sites leads to trickle-down challenges in every aspect of clinical trial enrollment.

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