What Sponsors Look for in a New Research Site
Greg Van Horn
For Sponsors
6
min read
Every new study starts with a site list. For sponsors and CROs, choosing the right sites is one of the biggest factors in whether a trial finishes on time. For a practice that is new to research, knowing what sponsors look for is the first step to being chosen.
1. Access to the right patients
The first question is always: does this site see the patients the protocol needs? Sponsors want evidence, not guesses. A strong site can describe how many patients it treats with the target condition, how it identified them, and how many are likely to meet key inclusion and exclusion criteria. Simple, honest counts beat inflated promises.
2. Investigator experience
Sponsors look closely at the principal investigator. Relevant specialty training, experience with the procedures in the protocol, prior research experience, and Good Clinical Practice training all matter. For device and interventional studies, hands-on procedural skill is often essential. A new investigator can still be selected, especially when supported by an experienced research team.
3. A credible recruitment plan
Feasibility questionnaires ask how a site will find and enroll patients. The best answers are specific: chart pre-screening of the practice's own patients, referral pathways, IRB-approved outreach, and a defined process for following up with interested patients quickly. Sites that rely only on "we'll advertise" are a higher risk.
4. Fast, predictable startup
Startup time, from site selection to first patient enrolled, is closely tracked. Sponsors favor sites that turn around confidentiality agreements, budgets, contracts, and regulatory documents quickly and without surprises. Central regulatory and contracts support can shorten this considerably.
5. The right facilities and equipment
Depending on the protocol, a site may need imaging, procedure rooms, specific lab capabilities, secure storage for investigational product, or calibrated equipment. Sponsors confirm this during site qualification visits.
6. Staffing and continuity
Studies can run for years. Sponsors want to know who the coordinators are, how experienced they are, and what happens when someone goes on vacation or leaves. Backup coverage is a real differentiator.
7. Data quality and compliance
Clean, timely data entry, quick resolution of queries, accurate documentation, and a history free of major inspection findings all signal a reliable site. Standard operating procedures and internal quality checks help prove it.
8. Honest communication
Finally, sponsors value sites that tell the truth, especially about enrollment. A site that commits to five patients and enrolls five is more valuable than one that promises twenty and enrolls two. Weekly enrollment reporting builds trust.
How new sites can compete
New sites don't have a long track record, but specialist practices often have what matters most: the patients and the procedural expertise. Pair that with an experienced research team, clear processes, and honest feasibility, and a new site can be a strong choice. Learn why specialist sites enroll faster.
Whizz Health offers sponsors procedure-ready specialist sites with built-in recruitment and one point of contact across every site. Tell us about your study for a free feasibility review.
Every new study starts with a site list. For sponsors and CROs, choosing the right sites is one of the biggest factors in whether a trial finishes on time. For a practice that is new to research, knowing what sponsors look for is the first step to being chosen.
1. Access to the right patients
The first question is always: does this site see the patients the protocol needs? Sponsors want evidence, not guesses. A strong site can describe how many patients it treats with the target condition, how it identified them, and how many are likely to meet key inclusion and exclusion criteria. Simple, honest counts beat inflated promises.
2. Investigator experience
Sponsors look closely at the principal investigator. Relevant specialty training, experience with the procedures in the protocol, prior research experience, and Good Clinical Practice training all matter. For device and interventional studies, hands-on procedural skill is often essential. A new investigator can still be selected, especially when supported by an experienced research team.
3. A credible recruitment plan
Feasibility questionnaires ask how a site will find and enroll patients. The best answers are specific: chart pre-screening of the practice's own patients, referral pathways, IRB-approved outreach, and a defined process for following up with interested patients quickly. Sites that rely only on "we'll advertise" are a higher risk.
4. Fast, predictable startup
Startup time, from site selection to first patient enrolled, is closely tracked. Sponsors favor sites that turn around confidentiality agreements, budgets, contracts, and regulatory documents quickly and without surprises. Central regulatory and contracts support can shorten this considerably.
5. The right facilities and equipment
Depending on the protocol, a site may need imaging, procedure rooms, specific lab capabilities, secure storage for investigational product, or calibrated equipment. Sponsors confirm this during site qualification visits.
6. Staffing and continuity
Studies can run for years. Sponsors want to know who the coordinators are, how experienced they are, and what happens when someone goes on vacation or leaves. Backup coverage is a real differentiator.
7. Data quality and compliance
Clean, timely data entry, quick resolution of queries, accurate documentation, and a history free of major inspection findings all signal a reliable site. Standard operating procedures and internal quality checks help prove it.
8. Honest communication
Finally, sponsors value sites that tell the truth, especially about enrollment. A site that commits to five patients and enrolls five is more valuable than one that promises twenty and enrolls two. Weekly enrollment reporting builds trust.
How new sites can compete
New sites don't have a long track record, but specialist practices often have what matters most: the patients and the procedural expertise. Pair that with an experienced research team, clear processes, and honest feasibility, and a new site can be a strong choice. Learn why specialist sites enroll faster.
Whizz Health offers sponsors procedure-ready specialist sites with built-in recruitment and one point of contact across every site. Tell us about your study for a free feasibility review.
