Recruitment in precision medicine and rare disease trials remains constrained by fragmented data, low prevalence populations, and heavy reliance on site-based pathways. Even in well-designed studies, a significant proportion of eligible patients are never identified.
This is driven by several structural challenges. Patient populations are often geographically dispersed and underdiagnosed. Many individuals who meet eligibility criteria have not received genetic testing or have been misdiagnosed. Clinical and genomic data are distributed across disconnected systems, limiting visibility into the full patient population. At the same time, traditional recruitment channels are increasingly saturated, making it harder to reach new participants.
These dynamics result in lower hit rates, slower enrollment timelines, and higher cost per eligible patient.
Addressing these challenges requires a shift from site-centric recruitment to a more integrated model of precision patient finding. Rather than relying on a single channel, effective strategies combine digital outreach, clinical networks, genetic testing, and longitudinal engagement.
Sano’s approach is built around this model. It is designed to identify patients who fall outside conventional pathways and support them through each stage of the trial journey, from initial awareness through to eligibility confirmation and beyond.
Many eligible participants are not visible through traditional clinical pathways. They may be undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or not actively engaged with specialist centers.
Sano addresses this through targeted digital outreach and partnerships with patient advocacy groups. Campaigns are informed by detailed patient profiles that reflect real-world disease journeys and regional variation. This enables outreach that resonates with specific populations and increases the likelihood of engagement.
This approach expands the top of the funnel by reaching individuals who would not otherwise enter the recruitment ecosystem.
Engagement is more effective when it is grounded in trust. Sano integrates patient organizations, clinicians, and referral networks into the recruitment process to create credible and accessible pathways into research.
These networks play a critical role in reaching patients who may not respond to traditional advertising or outreach. They also support education and decision-making, which is particularly important in complex or genetic conditions where participation requires a high level of understanding.
By embedding recruitment within trusted ecosystems, Sano increases both reach and conversion.
In precision medicine trials, eligibility is often defined by genetic criteria. Confirming this eligibility can introduce delays and friction if testing is not easily accessible.
Sano reduces these barriers through at-home genetic testing supported by counseling. This allows participants to complete testing without the need for site visits and ensures they receive clear, personalized explanations of their results.
By simplifying the testing process, more patients complete eligibility confirmation and progress through the recruitment funnel.
A key limitation in traditional recruitment is the fragmentation of patient data across systems and institutions. This makes it difficult to accurately identify and characterize eligible cohorts.
Sano centralizes genomic and patient-reported data within a unified platform, enabling consistent phenotyping and real-time tracking of recruitment activity. This creates a more complete view of each participant and supports more precise matching to study criteria.
It also allows sponsors to monitor performance across channels and adjust strategies based on live data.
Patient engagement does not end at enrollment. Sustained engagement is critical for both retention and future recruitment.
Sano supports this through virtual infrastructure that provides ongoing communication, personalized education, and updates on study opportunities. Participants remain connected even if they are not eligible for a specific study, creating a long-term relationship rather than a single interaction.
This approach maintains engagement across the lifecycle and builds a reusable pool of participants for future programs.
By integrating these components, Sano enables a more precise and efficient model of patient finding.
Sponsors gain access to patients outside traditional site networks, including those who are underdiagnosed or geographically dispersed. Genetic pre-screening improves the likelihood that identified patients meet protocol criteria, increasing overall hit rates.
Pre-screening and eligibility confirmation are completed more efficiently, supporting faster enrollment timelines. At the same time, sustained engagement improves conversion and retention, ensuring that patients who enter the funnel are more likely to progress through it.
This results in a more predictable recruitment process and a lower cost per enrolled patient.
Precision medicine trials require a fundamentally different approach to recruitment. Success depends on identifying specific patient subgroups, often within small and fragmented populations, and supporting them through complex eligibility pathways.
Sano’s model addresses this by combining global digital outreach, accessible genetic testing, integrated data infrastructure, and long-term engagement. Rather than optimizing for volume, it focuses on identifying the right patients and supporting them through to enrollment and beyond.
Many eligible patients remain outside traditional recruitment pathways. Reaching them requires a coordinated approach that integrates outreach, testing, data, and engagement across the full trial lifecycle.
Sano enables sponsors to find, qualify, and retain patients who are typically missed by conventional approaches. This improves both the speed and quality of enrollment, while building a foundation for more efficient future trials.
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