How investigator engagement, direct EMR access, and integrated recruitment support helped a site enroll nearly 3× its targeted goal while maintaining 100% participant retention
Recruiting qualified participants for obesity clinical trials can present significant challenges, particularly when eligibility criteria narrow the potential patient population and enrollment timelines are competitive.
For one obesity clinical trial, Profound Research needed to recruit adults with obesity and a BMI ≥35 kg/m² without diabetes. The study’s placebo-controlled design, restrictions on recent GLP-1 and other weight-management therapies, extensive eligibility criteria, and long-term treatment and follow-up schedule added complexity to recruitment.
Profound combined strong investigator engagement with direct electronic medical record (EMR) access, established referral pathways, targeted patient outreach, and dedicated recruitment support to identify appropriate participants and move qualified patients efficiently through screening and randomization.
The result: the site enrolled nearly 3× its targeted goal, finished as the highest-enrolling U.S. site, and has maintained 100% participant retention to date.
The Challenge: Recruiting Qualified Patients Within a Competitive Enrollment Window
Identifying appropriate participants required navigating extensive eligibility criteria, including restrictions on recent GLP-1 and other weight-management therapies. The study’s placebo-controlled design and long-term treatment and follow-up schedule added complexity to recruitment and participation.
With a competitive enrollment window, the site needed an efficient approach to identifying eligible patients, coordinating referrals, and moving qualified participants through screening and randomization.
Together, these requirements made proactive patient identification, careful pre-screening, and coordinated recruitment support especially important to achieving the site’s enrollment goals.
The Solution: Investigator Engagement, EMR Access, and Integrated Recruitment Support
A highly engaged Investigator played a central role in the site’s success, actively identifying and referring appropriate patients while working closely with the Profound research team.
This Investigator’s connection to a strong referral base across MHP Internal Medicine practices helped establish an effective pathway for identifying potential study participants.
Profound complemented that physician engagement by leveraging direct EMR access for proactive patient identification and pre-screening, alongside targeted patient outreach and dedicated recruitment resources. These coordinated efforts helped efficiently move qualified participants through screening and randomization.
By combining investigator involvement, broad referral pathways, and integrated recruitment support, the site was able to scale its enrollment efforts and deliver strong performance despite the study’s demanding eligibility requirements.
The Outcome: Highest-Enrolling U.S. Site With 100% Participant Retention
The site’s coordinated recruitment efforts translated into enrollment performance that significantly exceeded its target, alongside strong participant retention.
By the time enrollment closed on September 4, 2026, the site had enrolled nearly 3× its targeted goal and finished as the highest-enrolling U.S. site. The site has also maintained 100% participant retention to date.
Key Study Achievements:
• Enrolled nearly 3× the targeted enrollment goal
• Highest-enrolling U.S. site
• 100% participant retention to date
• Site Greenlight: January 22, 2026
• Enrollment Closed: September 4, 2026
These results highlight the impact of strong investigator engagement, established referral pathways, and Profound’s integrated recruitment and retention model in supporting enrollment performance and continued participant engagement.
What This Means for Sponsors
Enrollment success in clinical trials with complex eligibility requirements depends on more than access to a broad patient population. It requires the ability to identify appropriate candidates, coordinate referral pathways, and efficiently move qualified participants through screening and randomization.
In this obesity trial, strong investigator engagement and access to a broad referral network worked alongside direct EMR access, proactive pre-screening, and dedicated recruitment support. Together, these capabilities helped the site enroll nearly three times its targeted goal and finish as the highest-enrolling U.S. site.
The site’s 100% participant retention to date further demonstrates the value of an integrated approach that supports both enrollment and continued study participation.
For sponsors managing studies with challenging recruitment requirements, this case highlights the importance of combining strong physician relationships, connected patient identification resources, and coordinated recruitment and retention operations.
Looking Ahead
Complex eligibility criteria, competitive enrollment timelines, and long-term study commitments continue to shape how sites approach clinical research. This case demonstrates the value of bringing patient identification, investigator collaboration, referral networks, and operational execution together to address those challenges.
At Profound Research, we remain focused on strengthening investigator relationships and integrating recruitment and retention efforts to help sponsors navigate enrollment challenges, support study participation, and advance clinical research.