One of the primary objectives of SCRS is to advocate for its members. Clinical research is impossible without active collaboration from trial sites, and in order for sites to be successful in working with industry partners, their needs must be met. In the words of SCRS, “sites have long been the silent partner in the research enterprise, and SCRS ensures they are no longer passive participants by catalyzing dialogue with industry leaders and working to find solutions through collaboration.”
According to Jimmy Bechtel, vice president of site engagement at SCRS, some of the major ongoing challenges with research sites include financial burdens, diversity/equity/inclusion concerns, and optimization of remote clinical trial services. In regard to financial challenges, SCRS’ recent advocacy efforts are working to establish monthly payments for sites to conduct trials as part of its new Site Payment Initiative. This Initiative aims to “create a fair state where sites are paid 100% of earned revenue, payment terms are monthly rather than quarterly, and clinical trial volunteers are not penalized through tax”.
Other advocacy efforts consist of the Diversity Awareness Program, created in 2016, to promote more diverse patient recruitment into trials. The awareness program consists of 2 important initiatives: the Digital Innovation Initiative, representing the needs of trial sites in relation to digitalization of clinical trials, and the Workforce Task Force, which addresses the current staffing challenges plaguing many sites. SCRS also hosts 2 different types of advocacy workshops—Sites NOW and Site Advocacy Groups—to help sites operate at their best and facilitate dialogue between sites and industry leaders on topics regarding patient recruitment, technology, operational processes, and more.
The second overarching principle of SCRS is to educate its members on how to conduct clinical trials and carry out research in an efficient and meaningful way. Bechtel notes that many sites “don’t know what they don’t know,” and SCRS serves a significant purpose by sharing best practices and strategies for more efficient operations. SCRS has an incredibly robust “learning campus,” which houses a slew of resources for trial sites. There is a weekly webinar series, featuring topics such as “What Does Disability Look Like? Site Strategies for More Inclusive Patient Recruitment,” and “Giving Site Staff Superpowers – Embracing AI To Affect the Metrics That Matter.” There are also training modules for principal investigators on how to oversee a trial and courses specifically reviewing RECIST and iRECIST criteria. There is even an initiative—called CLEAR (Common Language Evaluation and Reconciliation)—to streamline contract negotiations and accelerate site initiations through the use of easily understandable language.
Moreover, SCRS has established a subgroup specifically dedicated to cancer research and care, given that oncology trials account for a large majority of clinical research. The SCRS Oncology Program strengthens relationships between cancer trial sites, industry sponsors, and research organizations through its networking opportunities and educational resources. The annual Oncology Site Landscape Survey gathers information from sites to inform stakeholders on the current climate of site challenges. For instance, this year’s survey found that when approached by a sponsor or CRO to conduct a decentralized trial, 44% of sites did not participate, largely due to discomfort in conducting this type of trial along with budget constraints. Furthermore, 45% of sites indicated they needed additional resources to support diversity, equity, and inclusion processes, primarily in the form of internal cultural adjustments and education for staff, external and community engagement best practices, and funding to implement grass-root programs and procedures.
The third major focus of SCRS is to foster relationships and promote networking between trial sites and industry partners. Every year, SCRS hosts several different summits around the world for its membership. Most recently, the European Site Solutions Summit took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 13th through the14th, where clinical research professionals, sponsors, clinical research organizations (CROs), and solution providers, were able to engage in innovative discussions, develop meaningful connections, and earn contact hours for educational sessions. Similarly, the Australia-New Zealand Site Solutions Summit covers the Asia-Pacific region, and the Global Site Solutions Summit occurs in the US. There are also specialty summits focusing on oncology research, diversity efforts, and clinical technology. These conferences give stakeholders the opportunity to come together and work on solutions for ongoing site challenges.
All of the members of SCRS are listed in its online directory, which is organized by therapeutic area, geographical location, or demographic data. When SCRS was first initiated, it gained nearly 300 members from 11 countries in 3 months. Since its inception, more than 10,500 research sites across 52 countries have joined the society. Most of its representation comes from members in the US, UK, European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. Although there are hospital and academic centers in SCRS, the large majority of members are free-standing research sites and practices. Sites join with varying levels of research experience, but most of the current members have at least 10 years of research under their belt, according to Bechtel. One of the most compelling reasons for sites to join the trade organization is the ability to contribute to the collective voice to promote change in the field. Even the most experienced sites cannot solve global research challenges on their own; being a part of SCRS empowers sites to work together and move solutions forward.
For new or inquiring members, Bechtel recommends starting with the membership section to understand the benefits and associated costs, and reviewing the publications and advocacy efforts to learn what type of work SCRS produces. In general, member sites find that educational materials and networking opportunities are some of the most impactful resources provided by SCRS. Many members attribute their business growth to connections made through SCRS. To continue fostering these industry connections, mentorship is a core value and intention of SCRS. Much of the current mentorship in the society has developed organically, with sites naturally gravitating towards those who operate similarly or have comparable needs. Of note, SCRS is currently developing a more robust mentorship program that will incorporate mentor/mentee matching.
Along with the many aforementioned benefits of joining SCRS, another unique perk is the ability to gain recognition through its site awards. One of the impactful ideas to come out of the SCRS Site Tank award was Kits4Life, a company that delivers unused medical supplies to developing countries. This year, the winner of Site Tank was a mobile application called AlzWell that uses AI technology to collect data for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s and matches them with appropriate clinical trials. SCRS members are able to submit for several annual awards focused on patient-centricity, inclusion, innovation and more. Announced at the annual Global Site Solutions Summit, recipients are celebrated all year and have several opportunities to share more information about their groundbreaking initiatives with industry stakeholders through SCRS publications and events.
In its 11 years of activity, SCRS has already made a monumental impact on the global research community by helping practices around the world learn what it means to conduct clinical research and serving as a collective voice for sites to work towards solutions and improve clinical care for all patients. It will be interesting to see how else SCRS continues to change the world of clinical research over the next 10 years and beyond.
