Logo

A Multi-Centre Parkinson's Disease Study

Case Study

Elderly couple using laptop
  • High-touch communication model
  • Dedicated study team accessible 24/7
  • Highly positive feedback from participants
  • 100 participants recruited 3 months ahead of schedule

Overview

VCTC was contracted by a medical device technology company to provide clinical study site services for a global observational trial. The objective was to compare the Sponsor’s novel software-based platform with current validated Parkinson’s Disease clinical tools. The aim was to support the development of a medical device to improve the diagnosis of neurological conditions.

The study required the enrolment of 100 participants with early-stage Parkinson’s Disease over a rapid 6-month period. Recruitment was anticipated to be challenging due to a restrictive budget, participants being unknown to VCTC, and the lack of direct benefit for participants. Additionally, the study required specialized resources for conducting clinical assessments.

The project posed several challenges, including:

• Recruiting within a condensed timeline.

• Overcoming participants' hesitancy due to lack of direct benefit.

• Securing specialized clinical resources to conduct assessments.

Tactics

  • Specialist Team: Included a specialist Parkinson’s Disease nurse and a leading consultant neurologist to enhance the credibility and precision of assessments
  • Community-Driven Recruitment: Leveraged NHS PICs and community-based approaches to connect with participants
  • High-Touch Communication: Maintained proactive engagement with participants, providing consistent updates and support
  • Dedicated Study Team: Ensured a team was accessible 24/7 to address participant concerns promptly
  • Tailored Study Design: Adapted the study to align with participants' needs, reducing barriers to enrolment
  • Realistic Recruitment Area: Focused on a manageable recruitment radius to reduce participant travel burdens

Outcomes

  • Streamlined and efficient processes enabled rapid approvals and start-up
  • Recruited 100 participants in under 12 weeks, 3 months ahead of schedule
  • Achieved a high conversion rate from interested participants to enrolled participants
  • Received highly positive feedback from participants, many expressing willingness to participate in future studies
  • Demonstrated flexible and agile approaches to address challenges dynamically

Have Questions?

If you have questions or would like to know more about the work we do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Contact us