Project Overview
A top 10 US research institution was conducting a nationwide clinical trial in diabetes but had hit a wall with recruitment. After nearly a year of struggling to fill the study through social media, their own university health system, and other vendors, they turned to Thrivable. Within just four months, Thrivable delivered nearly 20% of the total study participants and gave the client new confidence in managing recruitment speed, cost, and quality.
The Challenge
Recruitment had dragged on for close to a year with limited results. The institution’s main methods, which included social media campaigns, outreach through their university health system, and third-party engagement platforms, proved costly, slow, and ineffective. Social media advertising, while expensive, wasn’t producing enough qualified participants, averaging nearly $1,000 per enrollee. Their university health system was already exhausted as a recruitment channel, leaving little room for additional patients. And, because the trial required a nationwide reach, relying solely on the local network wasn’t enough. To make matters worse, the team had little visibility into acquisition costs or recruitment progress, which made managing budgets and timelines even harder. They needed a partner who could cut through these barriers and deliver the right participants with both speed and reliability.
How Thrivable Responded
Thrivable combined the strength of its patient database with a hands-on, quality-driven process. By tapping into its engaged community of individuals living with diabetes, Thrivable was able to quickly identify and connect with the right patients on a national scale, something the institution’s local university network and social media campaigns couldn’t achieve. Every participant was carefully pre-screened against study criteria, and the data was revisited throughout the project to ensure ongoing alignment with the study’s needs. This proactive approach gave the research team confidence in both the quality and reliability of their recruits.
Just as importantly, Thrivable delivered the “human touch” the client valued: a responsive, flexible team that adapted quickly to evolving needs and maintained open communication throughout the project. Clear tracking methods provided new visibility into acquisition costs and budget management, giving the institution insights they had never had before and helping them manage recruitment spend with confidence.
“The overall experience was very positive and we really appreciated the desire to reach the same goals. An overall positive experience!” – Kate R., Clinical Research Coordinator
The Result
Once on board, Thrivable recruited nearly 20% of all recruits for the study. Most importantly, Thrivable did this in just four months, while other vendors had taken nearly a year to bring in the remaining participants.
The institution not only gained speed but also higher-quality recruits, better tracking, and improved cost efficiency compared to their earlier $1,000-per-enrollee average.
If you’re looking to improve your clinical trial recruitment with faster timelines, high-quality patients, and clear visibility into costs, Thrivable is here to help. Contact us today to learn how we can support your next study. Contact Thrivable today to explore how we can support your next research project.
