OmniComm Systems, a global provider of clinical data management technology, has announced survey results representing clinical research and development organizations. The survey respondents included 16 sponsor organizations and 13 CROs. The results indicate a significant movement forward in the industry toward active risk-based monitoring (RBM) adoption, with 76% of the organizations reporting that they are either already executing RBM studies (45%) or planning to initiate RBM studies during this year (31%).

The survey further elucidated differences in RBM adoption between CROs and sponsors. Thirty-three percent of CROs already have initiated RBM studies compared to 53% of sponsors. This result reenforces the relative hesitance that many have observed from the CRO industry with respect to RBM.

The value potential of RBM often is less immediately recognized by CROs versus sponsors, and many instead perceive a threat to study revenues related to site monitoring. Given the anticipated full adoption of RBM across the industry, CROs who proactively embrace this new paradigm could see a competitive advantage in the coming years.

Collectively, the respondents also indicated that the biggest barrier to successful RBM adoption is the perceived complexity and associated burden with implementing an RBM methodology—63% of all respondents.