When sponsors evaluate a site they have never worked with, 71% rank recruitment and retention history as the most important factor, according to research on Nordic biopharma and CRO decision-makers. Yet many sites still open with general claims about facilities or expertise, with no verifiable figures.
A strong site profile answers feasibility questions before they are asked. That means enrollment history with targets, actuals, and timelines for each study. It means patient counts by indication, with the query method and date documented. It means current CVs, training dates, named backup coordinators, and concurrent study load. Facilities matter, but as a threshold, not a differentiator. Only 1% of survey respondents ranked equipment first.
Historical data show why sponsors focus on evidence. In one large analysis of trials from 2008 to 2010, 11% of activated sites enrolled zero patients, and 48% under-enrolled. Overestimated patient counts were a leading cause of recruitment delay in the Nordic survey.
Build your profile with one owner and one reviewer. Use dated figures with clear denominators. Map therapeutic areas to standard vocabularies where your platform supports it. Cross-check names and addresses against your regulatory file. Update after every study closeout, staffing change, or at least annually.