HOUSTON — The Walmart Healthcare Research Institute (WHRI) and Care Access announced plans to open three additional Clinical Trial Centers in Livonia, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Antonio, Texas, during the first half of 2027, further expanding efforts to bring clinical research and health screening services into local communities.
The new sites build on the partnership's first four Clinical Trial Centers, which recently opened in Houston and Tyler, Texas; Dalton, Georgia; and Brandon, Florida. Leaders from Walmart and Care Access marked the milestone with a grand opening event at the Houston location on Highway 6 South.
The centers are designed to make clinical research more accessible by placing research information, health screenings and trial participation opportunities in familiar retail settings. The network will support Phase 2, 3 and 4 clinical trials, with study areas including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and GLP-1 therapies, depending on local availability.
"Opening these locations is an important step in advancing our mission to make clinical research accessible to all," said Ahmad Namvargolian, CEO and co-founder of Care Access. "Our collaboration with Walmart helps make clinical research more visible, approachable and integrated into the places where people already live and shop."
At each location, Care Access will offer clinical trial participation opportunities, advanced health screenings and educational resources to help individuals better understand available research options. Participation is voluntary, and community members may visit the centers to learn more about studies and screening services.
Emily Aaronson, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer at Walmart U.S., said the expansion reflects a broader goal of increasing research participation across diverse communities.
"Expanding access to clinical research starts with making opportunities available in more communities," Aaronson said. "These additional locations build on the foundation we've established with Care Access and bring us closer to a future where more people, regardless of where they live, can learn about and participate in research that could improve health for themselves and future generations."
The initiative also has support from pharmaceutical companies seeking to broaden clinical trial participation. Michael Franklin, vice president of Community-Based Research & Innovation at Eli Lilly and Company, said community-based research models can help improve representation in clinical studies and generate evidence that better reflects real-world patient populations.
Beyond the new centers, WHRI said it will continue connecting individuals with clinical trials already underway in their communities through nationwide outreach and recruitment efforts.
