ICON, Advarra Partner on Connected Site Network Model

ICON plc, a clinical research organization, and Advarra, a provider of connected, intelligence-powered research technology, have entered a partnership agreement to introduce a new ‘research-ready,’ connected site network model for clinical trials.

The partnership will integrate ICON’s global clinical trial services with Advarra’s site CTMSs, eISF, and eSource systems. This approach leverages Advarra’s Study Collaboration as the connector to ICON’s technology to create a shared operating environment for ICON studies that aims to reduce administrative friction, accelerate study startup, and increase clinical trial participation.

Advarra will also provide ICON with operational intelligence through Study Collaboration, built on Braid, Advarra’s data and AI platform that draws on operational insights from its IRB and clinical trial systems. The intelligence will help ICON further optimize protocol design, improve forecasting and study planning, and strengthen research site identification and feasibility decisions. With a clearer understanding of research site capacity, workflow realities, and historical operational patterns, the goal is to allow for studies to be planned more realistically and executed with fewer downstream adjustments.

In addition, ICON and Advarra will work together to expand access to clinical trials by enabling more research sites worldwide to support today’s increasingly complex study requirements. The companies plan to equip emerging and research-naïve sites, along with select sites working with ICON, with Advarra’s site technology, helping standardize operations and reduce manual processes. 

“Research sites should not have to adapt their operations for every new study or sponsor, and ICON and Advarra are focused on meeting sites where they are, prioritising their needs and removing that burden through this partnership,” said Barry Balfe, CEO of ICON plc. “By aligning ICON’s workflows with the systems sites already use every day, we’re advancing a more practical and scalable way to run trials that reduces administrative burden on sites.”

“Sites do their best work when they can stay focused on patients and study delivery, not on managing fragmented processes,” said Gadi Saarony, CEO of Advarra. “By integrating ICON’s technology with the Advarra systems sites already use, this partnership allows sites to work in their native systems, reducing rework, improving consistency, and streamlining workflows. For sponsors, it means trials can move forward with greater speed and confidence, helping promising therapies move through development more efficiently and reach patients sooner.”