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Walmart Healthcare Research Institute and Care Access have partnered to streamline the way people engage in clinical research.
The overview
Walmart and Care Access held an Oct. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Greater Houston clinical trial center, located at 3506 Hwy. 6 S.
How it works
The center holds five patient rooms where people come for health screenings, education and in-trial activities, said Dr. Emily Aaronson, who serves as chief medical officer for Walmart.
Qualified individuals can receive free health screenings for a variety of conditions including kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, lung disease and Alzheimer's, Care Access CEO Ahmad Namvargolian said.
After a person receives their results, Care Access notifies them if their health background matches a clinical trial.
Also of note
Joseph Oh, Care Access’ senior vice president of marketing, said the company sought out areas where there are no clinical research opportunities nearby.
“Clinical trials are a critical part about how we develop new treatments and medicines for the future and for everyone,” Oh said. “The problem ultimately is that there's not enough representation in clinical trials.”
Zooming out
There are other clinical trial centers in Tyler, Texas, as well as in Georgia and Florida with more slated to open in early to mid-2027 in San Antonio, Texas, as well as in Michigan and Nevada, Oh said.
