ICON plc announced results of its latest industry survey, examining the challenges clinical trial sites face during study startup. The findings underscore the need for a site-centric, collaborative approach to overcome bottlenecks and enhance trial activation timelines. The survey, conducted in June 2025 among just over 100 principal investigators and senior clinical trial site personnel, gathered perspectives from a wide range of clinical trial sites and is not limited to studies managed by ICON.
It reveals widespread sentiment that sites are increasingly burdened by operational bottlenecks, contract and budget delays, and communication gaps. These challenges contribute to significant disruptions at the startup stage, with 55% of respondents reporting that time from site selection to full activation is longer than 5 months, and 39% reporting longer timelines than two years ago. Contract and budget delays are a persistent issue, with 66% of respondents experiencing them frequently.
Almost all respondents (92%) identified these as the top areas where both sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs) can improve support. With 47% of respondents rating sponsor and CRO communication as average or poor, this highlights a critical need for site-centricity.
