CROs – Contract Research Organizations – are brought in by the trial sponsor to administer and manage the trial. Their core role is usually project management and overseeing the day to day operations of the trial. They may also have some input to trial and protocol design, and may advise on the various regulations in place in the regions where the trial is being operated.

CROs are often tasked with recruiting and retaining patients. This will likely involve them going back to research sites they’ve already worked with who they believe may have relevant patients that would qualify for the trial. And sometimes they bring in a solutions provider to augment these activities. In particular, the smaller, boutique CROs are increasingly likely to collaborate with solutions providers rather than present themselves as a one-stop shop in the way the larger organizations often do.