The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) and global clinical trial technology and data analytics leader Medidata has launched a clinical trial Site Advisory Group (SAG). The joint initiative aims to further efforts to engage investigative sites throughout the course of a clinical trial, a critical factor in ensuring successful patient enrollment and high-quality data collection.

A key goal of the SAG will be to identify opportunities to accelerate drug development and overcome operational challenges, including streamlining the process used to reimburse investigative sites for their work on trials—a major pain point in clinical research today. According to an ongoing research project conducted by the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), lengthy delays in payment result in high turnover rates among clinical investigators, with 40% of sites dropping out of FDA-regulated clinical trials. This high turnover rate drives up the cost of drug development, with onboarding rates averaging $40,000 per new site. The high turnover also results in sites dropping out of clinical studies altogether.

“One of the most exciting components of our evolving partnership with SCRS is continuing to hear directly from investigators about their specific needs and perspectives on improving clinical trials, now and in the future. We use this feedback to refine our platform’s capabilities and develop solutions to address burdens in the clinical trial process,” said April Mulroney, managing director of Medidata’s site reimbursement technology, Medidata Payments. “Investigative sites are vital to furthering scientific and medical breakthroughs, and we want to ensure that they have the resources and support needed to increase efficiencies, protect patient safety, and ultimately, help get drugs to patients sooner."

Medidata Payments is addressing the unmet need for modern technology to automate the reimbursement process. Recently named a 2016 Scrip Awards finalist, Medidata Payments is the industry’s only EDC-driven solution that generates accurate payment calculations based on data gathered throughout a clinical study. The solutions’ automatic trigger function takes the calculated payments and feeds them into a disbursement system, sending funds directly to sites upon completion of work and, as a result, accelerates payment cycle times. In addition, Medidata Payments’ advanced global calculation capabilities adhere to desired currency and country-specific tax requirements, further streamlining the payment process by reducing time spent on financial reporting and reconciliations.

“Medidata brings significant industry expertise, technology, data, resources and insights to help drive improved strategic and streamlined execution for clinical research,” said Christine Pierre, president of SCRS. “By encouraging candid conversations that bring together investigative sites, clinical trial sponsors, CROs and other key industry organizations, Medidata is continuing to help ensure that the voice of investigative sites is heard. We’re excited to engage with Medidata to facilitate this important dialogue, and look forward to working together to bring about meaningful change for investigative sites and the industry at large.”