The MRN

The MRN coined the term Clinical Trial Support Organization in 2006 (“Introducing a unique “Clinical Trial Support Organization”, Clinical Development, July 2006), later defining this sector of the industry as:

“A group of organizations focused only on the clinical trial market, whose main purpose is to help Sponsors and CROs meet their clinical trial recruitment and retention objectives as rapidly and efficiently as possible”. 

See - “CTSOs in Europe.  A review of the sector with MRN case history”, Pharmaceutical Physician, Spring 2008 edition

Being a Clinical Trial Support Organization differentiates us clearly from CROs, many of which employ CTSOs for their trials.

We breakdown Clinical Trial Support services and providers into the following groups:

• PR / advertising / media
• Software – feasibility or administrative tools, patient registration databases
• Training
• Strategic consulting
• Resourcing
• Reducing the trial impact on the patient’s life

Analyzing the companies and services this way leads to insights on how to use the services most effectively, a model we have called the Hierarchy of Need.  Our services typically fall into groups 5 and 6.

See - “Recruitment and Retention – a model for effective implementation of support tools and techniques.”  EPC Summer 2010 edition.