Durham, NC and Atlanta, GA – Canary Concierge, Rare Disease Research, and Gooseberry Research today announced a strategic partnership designed to reduce participation barriers and accelerate the execution of rare disease clinical trials.

The collaboration brings together Rare Disease Research (RDR), an independent clinical trial site network dedicated exclusively to rare disease studies and recognized for consistent, high-quality trial execution; Gooseberry Research (GBR), a decentralized and home-based clinical trial solution for rare and pediatric studies that spun out of RDR in late 2024; and Canary Concierge, a participant-focused clinical trial travel and reimbursement solution designed to address one of the most persistent operational challenges in rare disease research.

Together, the organizations offer sponsors and CROs an integrated model that combines rigorous site-level execution, decentralized and hybrid study delivery options, and comprehensive travel and reimbursement support, addressing both operational complexity and participant burden across the full trial lifecycle.

This coordinated approach is designed to provide improvements in multiple aspects of clinical trial conduct and participant experience, including:

• Improved retention rates

• Reduction in patient burden

• Faster site activation

• Reduced trial timelines

• Greater participant satisfaction

“My family has participated in rare disease studies for nearly 15 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how travel logistics, reimbursement delays, and small operational frictions can determine whether families are able to stay in a trial,” said Jenn McNary, Co-Founder of Canary Concierge. “Canary Concierge focuses on removing those burdens, and Rare Disease Research and Gooseberry Research share that same commitment to execution and participant experience. This partnership allows us to move beyond advocacy and deliver practical, measurable improvements for patients and sponsors alike.” “Rare disease trials demand a level of operational precision and participant support that traditional models often fail to provide,” said Dr. Han Phan, Founder and CEO of Rare Disease Research. “By integrating site-based excellence, decentralized and home-based visit options, and specialized travel and reimbursement support, this alliance is designed to improve data quality, increase retention, and give sponsors greater flexibility in how studies are delivered.”

As part of the partnership, the organizations plan to pursue joint initiatives including:

• Coordinated pilot programs in select rare disease indications

• Shared participant experience and burden-of-care assessments

• Integrated operational planning to align site, home-based, and travel logistics from

  study startup through closeout

The alliance reflects a broader shift toward patient-centric trial execution backed by measurable operational outcomes, rather than standalone services or advisory-only approaches.