Blog

24 August 2026

Fast-Tracking Clinical Success in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Executive summary

Fortrea designed and implemented Turbo Charge, a repeatable acceleration model for a pulmonary fibrosis clinical development program. Built around close collaboration between the sponsor, Fortrea, vendors, sites and patients, the approach combined patient-centric support, streamlined site activation, data-driven site and referral strategies, proactive risk management, strong program governance, and a unified cross-functional operating model across multiple regions to support more efficient trial execution while keeping patient safety and quality at the forefront.

Introduction

The Turbo Charge model was implemented through a series of targeted operational interventions designed to accelerate clinical trial delivery across pulmonary fibrosis (PF), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) studies. Rather than relying on a single solution, the approach combined multiple complementary strategies across patient recruitment strategy, site engagement, vendor coordination, trial oversight and pulmonary fibrosis clinical operations and execution.

The following success factors highlight the key elements that contributed to the program's acceleration strategy.

The Success Factors Behind Turbo Charge

The program is designed to:

Accelerate Clinical Trial Timelines
Support Clinical Trial Enrollment Optimization
Enhance Cross-functional Collaboration amongst CRO, Sponsor, Vendors, and Sites
Leverage Data and Technology
Improve Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient Experience and Site Experience
Drive Top-Class Performance

How Turbo Charge Accelerates Clinical Development in Pulmonary Fibrosis

It operates through a set of practical, repeatable accelerators designed to remove friction across the clinical trial lifecycle.

These are the following approaches:

1. Site Enrichment and Referral Network Activation

Turbo Charge identifies and engages high volume pulmonary fibrosis treatment sites and healthcare providers managing large numbers of PF patients. It establishes “hub and spoke” referral networks to direct eligible patients from referring HCPs to trial sites, helping patients be identified and enrolled.

2. Patient and Family Enablement Across Regions

The program includes patient centric support to reduce barriers to participation. Expanded patient and family enablement was implemented across key APAC markets (India, China, Japan), providing practical support such as logistical and financial assistance and simplified participation pathways, while managing coordination challenges.

3. Regional Accelerator and Vendor Ecosystem

Turbo Charge activates regional accelerator vendor support systems across LATAM and EU, alongside recruitment vendors to strengthen patient recruitment and improve retention. Vendor plans are aligned tightly to sponsor expectations with Fortrea involved from the beginning to support consistency, speed of delivery and engage one integrated operating approach across multiple regions.

4. Execution Focused Investigator and Site Engagement

The program in which Turbo Charge was implemented delivered ten investigator meetings globally designed to be interactive and execution‑focused, using creative formats and targeted breakout sessions to address region‑and role‑specific needs and reduce obstacles for site activation and patient recruitment. In addition, study coordinator workshops focused on data management support, strengthening operational consistency, and reducing downstream friction by providing a forum to collate site feedback and use it constructively.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Rapid Issue Resolution

Turbo Charge uses dashboards, trackers and regular SWAT (rapid response) meetings to monitor progress and identify risks early. This enables proactive escalation, real‑time issue resolution, and ongoing alignment across cross functional teams.

6. Late Stage Screening and Allocation Enablement

Later in the program, a site screening support tool was implemented using a screening allocation process to support recruitment goals and accelerate screening momentum. This operational workflow contributed to meeting LPI goals ahead of plan.

Why This Clinical Trial Acceleration Model Matters

Faster Access to Therapies: By accelerating every aspect of the trial process, Turbo Charge helps bring potentially life-changing treatments to patients sooner.
Model for Future Trials: The Turbo Charge acceleration model and data-driven site enrichment approach could serve as a blueprint for future clinical development programs.

How Turbo Charge Addresses Key Sponsor Challenges

The Turbo Charge program directly addresses key sponsor pain points in clinical trials for patients, sites/investigators, and sponsors, by implementing a series of targeted solutions and process improvements. Here’s how:

1. Reducing Site and Investigator Burden (Site Perspective)

Streamlined Site Activation & Contracting:
Turbo Charge introduces SWAT teams and digital tools to accelerate site activation, simplify contracting, and minimize negotiation cycles. This reduces administrative workload and speeds up the process for sites to begin enrolling patients.
Data-Driven Site Selection:
By leveraging claims data and analytics, Turbo Charge identifies high-potential sites and referral networks, supporting activation of the most suitable and prepared sites. This means less wasted effort for sites unlikely to enroll patients and more support for those with high potential.

2. Enhancing Patient Access and Experience (Patient Perspective)

Referral Networks & Patient Support:
The program sets up “hub-and-spoke” referral systems, connecting community HCPs with trial sites and providing incentives for appropriate referrals. This helps patients access trials more easily, especially those who might not otherwise be aware of or able to reach a study site.
Financial and Logistical Support:
Turbo Charge offers solutions like stipends, travel support, and partnerships with patient advocacy groups and digital health apps. These reduce the financial and logistical barriers that often prevent patients from participating in trials.

3. Improving Communication and Collaboration (Sponsor Perspective)

Unified, Cross-Functional Teams:
The “One Turbo Charge Team” approach enables stakeholders—Sponsor, sites, and partners—to work together transparently, with rapid escalation and resolution of issues. This collaborative model addresses common frustrations around slow communication and siloed decision-making.
Regional Alignment
The program uses regional meetings to focus specifically on pain points for that region with key stakeholders on the call ready to assist with removing any obstacles in real-time. The meeting provides a dedicated landscape to discuss start-up, clinical operations, data management, safety, and quality while providing stakeholders with high-level data metrics for leadership.
Continuous Feedback Loops:
Regular meetings, dashboards, and site engagement platforms allow for real-time monitoring, feedback, and adjustment. Sites and investigators can escalate issues quickly and see their concerns addressed, which increases satisfaction and engagement. Commitment conversations, one-on-one meetings, and trial surveys help gauge interest, and support collaborative solutioning.

4. Accelerating Enrollment and Study Timelines (Applicable to All Stakeholders)

Leading with Quality:
Acceleration is most effective when quality remains embedded throughout program delivery. Turbo Charge supports this through proactive risk identification, cross-functional planning sessions, regional review calls, and early mitigation planning to address potential issues before they impact study performance. With the Turbo Charge methodology, quality remains at the forefront of the trial through close collaboration among stakeholders. Fortrea's quality management system (QMS) helps teams identify, capture, and discuss risks proactively, enabling rapid action planning and implementation of mitigation measures before risks become issues.
Leading Enrollment Tactics:
By maximizing site activation, deploying staff for chart reviews, and using targeted education and awareness campaigns, Turbo Charge helps sites enroll patients faster and more efficiently. This reduces the time and effort required to meet enrollment targets.
Patient-Centric Innovations:
Initiatives like eConsent, telehealth, and digital patient engagement tools reduce friction for both patients and sites, making participation easier and more attractive.

5. Addressing Financial and Reimbursement Barriers

On-Demand Reimbursement Support:
Field reimbursement leads and case managers help sites and patients navigate insurance, billing, and co-pay issues, helping address financial barriers to participation.

Turbo Charge can lead to a smoother, faster, and more satisfying experience for all involved in the clinical trial process.

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