Patient Recruitment and Retention
Advancing access, supporting patients
Every clinical trial represents a hope—to patients, families and the future of medicine. Effective patient recruitment and retention strategies are critical to delivering on that hope, directly impacting study timelines, data quality and regulatory readiness. In today’s increasingly complex research environment, underperformance in either area can jeopardize statistical power, compromise data integrity and delay market entry—risks that directly translate into higher costs and lost opportunities for patients and sponsors alike.
A comprehensive, human-centered approach
We partner with sponsors and sites to support every step of the patient journey—from first contact to final visit. Our patient recruitment and retention solutions bring together precision outreach, advanced digital technologies and well-established retention methods to accelerate enrollment, reduce site burden and create a smoother, more positive experience for every participant.
For each study, we design customized, multi-channel engagement plans tailored to the indication and patient population. By connecting with individuals at the right moments in their care journey—whether they’re already known to sites or newly identified—we drive stronger engagement, faster timelines and better trial outcomes.
A track record of successful patient recruitment and retention in clinical trials
Over the last 5 years, we have implemented patient recruitment and retention strategies for more than:
560
clinical trials
22
therapeutic areas
278
indications
What distinguishes Syneos Health from other CROs in patient recruitment and retention?
Through digital community networks of more than 2,500 patient groups representing over 6.7 million active members, and via actively managed digital campaigns, Syneos Health connects approximately 480,000 patients to clinical trials each year.
Through targeted digital advertisements and direct mail, we engage physicians treating the patients we hope to enroll, expanding access for more patients to groundbreaking care.
By putting patient perspectives at the center of all that we do, we are able to develop targeted patient recruitment and engagement plans based on their unique journey. Community engagement through patient advocacy outreach and local community groups facilitated by our in-house experts creates credibility and awareness for our trials and sponsors.
Supported by our patient mobile application and in-house support teams, we provide 24/7, multilingual support for patients and caregivers both online and through our call center to support scheduling, travel coordination and reimbursements. This achieves measurable results, with sites that use our patient concierge services achieving 29% higher enrollment.
We enhance clinical trial performance by providing additional on-site or remote staff and operational support to help sites recruit patients faster and manage studies more efficiently. Site augmentation has proven to reduce site burden by 77%, improve data quality and accelerate timelines by filling resource or expertise gaps. At Syneos Health, site augmentation integrates seamlessly with patient recruitment and retention strategies to strengthen site performance and ensure study success.
Advancing patient diversity in clinical trials through comprehensive inclusion strategies
We combine Diversity Action Plans with real-time tracking so sponsors can monitor and meet diversity goals throughout the trial. Our community network enables outreach to underrepresented groups, supported by multilingual websites, educational resources and culturally relevant strategies that reduce barriers to participation.
Our patient-centered engagement model addresses long-standing challenges that limit diverse representation in research. With inclusive research education, we equip sites and communities to build trust. We couple this with our other recruitment and retention strategies to ease the patient journey.
Let’s talk about your clinical trial and strategies to advance access for better outcomes.
AI is transforming patient recruitment by making the process faster, more precise and more inclusive. Advanced algorithms analyze electronic health records, claims data and real world evidence to identify eligible patients with greater accuracy. Predictive models help forecast enrollment challenges and optimize site selection, while natural language processing supports patient-friendly outreach through chatbots and digital engagement tools. AI also enables more personalized communication, matching patients with trials that fit their medical and personal needs. At Syneos Health, we leverage AI to streamline recruitment, improve patient experiences and help sponsors achieve enrollment goals more efficiently.
Successful patient recruitment relies on strategies that combine data-driven insights with patient-centered engagement. Using real world data and analytics helps identify eligible populations more efficiently, while community partnerships and outreach build trust in underrepresented groups. Multilingual resources, educational tools and culturally relevant messaging reduce barriers to participation. Digital platforms and social media expand awareness, while personalized communication ensures patients feel supported and informed. At Syneos Health, we integrate these approaches into tailored recruitment programs, enabling sponsors to reach the right patients more effectively and accelerate trial timelines.
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