For a research site to be effective, there needs to be a steady stream of clinical trials. Many independent websites have been in operation for years and have developed strong relationships with sponsors and CRO. Some websites are newer and are not yet well known or accepted in the industry. Working with an established clinical research network can be very helpful for all sites.
What benefits can be expected from working with a clinical research network ?
An experienced clinical research network will be able to suggest studies that your site may not be aware of. In fact, sponsors or CRO may not give sufficient consideration to some of these studies. This makes it all the more important to look at clinical trials more frequently to better tailor them. This increases the number of study opportunities for your site and will be profitable for your company. One of the key features is the ability to negotiate budgets and CTAs on behalf of your site. A large network will be able to negotiate more attractive search budgets than your site could on its own, as many sites work with it. Your site can leverage the network's breadth and reach when negotiating with a sponsor or CRO to get a better deal for you.
What are the drawbacks of working with a clinical research network ?
The costs associated with using a research network are the main drawback for some websites. Some networks require a monthly membership fee in exchange for a set amount of study leads each month. This organizational structure is more typical of "broker" type networks, which simply offer leads and let the website handle the rest. There is a commission fee for each search approved by other networks. Depending on the network, these fees can range from 8% to 20% of the value of the study. While the expense associated with this arrangement may seem exorbitant for some websites, it also has the advantage of not charging the network up front, whether the research is approved or not.