Running nutrition trials without the site visit
Delivering faster, more accessible nutrition research through decentralised and hybrid studies
The challenge
Traditional human intervention studies often depend on participants travelling repeatedly to a research site.
For organisations investing in nutrition, health and supplement research, this can limit participant recruitment, increase study timelines and create barriers to engagement.
The challenge is finding a way to make research more accessible and efficient, while maintaining scientific rigour, participant oversight and high-quality data collection.
The solution
We partnered with Trialflare, a secure clinical research platform, to deliver fully decentralised and hybrid nutrition intervention studies.
This flexible approach allows many research activities to take place remotely, reducing the need for site visits while maintaining robust study management and data collection.
We have built an ecosystem where decentralised human nutrition trials can be conducted effectively. Participants can engage with studies remotely while still contributing biological samples. This improves both delivery times and trial reach.
Depending on the study design, participants can:
- complete recruitment, screening and consent online
- submit questionnaires and food diaries digitally
- receive study products at home
- take part in regular remote study check-ins
- use wearable devices to collect health, activity and sleep data
- collect blood spot, stool or saliva samples using postal sampling kits
Samples are returned directly to Newcastle University for laboratory processing and analysis. Any procedures requiring specialist equipment or clinical oversight can be incorporated through targeted site visits.
Our approach
Every project is designed around the needs of the research question.
Some studies can be delivered entirely remotely, helping organisations access participants regardless of location. Others use a hybrid model, combining remote delivery with selected in-person assessments where specialist facilities or controlled testing environments are required.
Working together with Trialflare, we provide:
- digital participant recruitment and screening
- secure e-consent processes
- real-time participant monitoring
- integrated questionnaire and dietary data collection
- wearable technology integration
- remote biological sample collection
- secure, auditable data management
- laboratory analysis through Newcastle University's specialist facilities
This creates a seamless participant experience while enabling researchers to maintain visibility throughout the study lifecycle.
The impact
By reducing reliance on traditional site-based research, organisations can run studies more efficiently while widening access to participants.
The model helps clients:
- recruit participants from a broader geographical area
- reduce barriers to participation
- accelerate study delivery
- capture real-world behavioural and physiological data
- maintain robust oversight and audit trails
- access specialist university expertise without requiring participants to make frequent site visits
Recent projects have demonstrated the potential to deliver studies significantly faster than traditional clinic-based approaches, while maintaining high standards of data quality and participant engagement.