Journal article
Frontier Sites in Clinical Trials: Opportunities, Challenges, and Models
Contemporary clinical trials communications, v 48, 101581
Nov 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The clinical trial industry faces a growing capacity gap driven by an increasing number of studies combined with site and staff shortages. The Site Enablement League (SEL) Task Force on Frontier Sites was established to explore the potential of non-traditional research sites—termed "frontier sites"—to address these issues by expanding access to underserved populations and embedding clinical research in community settings.
The task force defined frontier sites and conducted a survey to gather perspectives on their benefits, challenges, and support needs. Twenty-nine valid survey responses were collected. Respondents self-identified as having direct experience with frontier sites (“experienced respondents”) or answered based on their perception of working with frontier sites (“perception respondents”). Free-text responses were coded into categories and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.
Access to new participant populations was the most cited benefit, and experienced respondents noted additional gains in site engagement and education. Operational infrastructure deficiencies were the primary challenge identified by both experienced and perception respondents. Experienced respondents highlighted greater concerns about compliance and community resistance. The primary support need identified was enhanced operational support and quality oversight. Differences between experienced and perception respondent groups suggested the need for broader industry education.
Frontier sites offer significant promise for increasing research capacity and diversity, but require substantial operational, educational, and community engagement support. These survey findings provide a foundation for shared understanding across the industry. From that foundation the industry can work to develop a playbook to guide the successful integration of frontier sites into clinical trial operations.
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Details
- Title
- Frontier Sites in Clinical Trials: Opportunities, Challenges, and Models
- Creators
- Andrea Bastek (Corresponding Author) - VP of Market Strategy, Florence HealthcareAmanda Zenere - Ripple (United States)Heather Manley - Clinvest (United States)Camille Finkle - Nuvance HealthChad Jaeger - Banner ResearchJanet Matthews - Drexel UniversityKristie Moffett - Moffitt Cancer CenterMegan Solomon - Regulatory and Compliance, Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, P.CPaula Underhill - “PPD™ Clinical Research services, Thermo Fisher Scientific”
- Publication Details
- Contemporary clinical trials communications, v 48, 101581
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Florence
Funding This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Florence
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine; SOM Dean - Research Administration
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001637361300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105023963120
- Other Identifier
- 991022133488904721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Industry collaboration
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Medicine, Research & Experimental