Full-Service CRO vs Functional Service Provider (FSP)Full-Service CRO vs. Functional Service Provider (FSP): Which Model Fits Your Trial?
Sponsors outsourcing clinical trial work generally choose between two operating models, and the choice shapes everything from contract structure to who a site coordinator actually calls when something goes wrong. A full-service CRO takes on an entire trial or program under one contract, using its own staff and systems end to end. A functional service provider (FSP) instead embeds specific functions, most often clinical monitoring, data management, or biostatistics, directly into the sponsor's own team and processes. Neither model is inherently better; the right choice depends on trial count, internal infrastructure, and how much day-to-day control the sponsor wants to keep.
