Care Access Expands to Nova Scotia to Increase Clinical Research Access for Underrepresented Canadian Communities

BOSTON – May 22, 2023 – Care Access, a leading global clinical research site, today announced the opening of its first permanent site location in Canada, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Cape Breton is a historically underserved community in clinical trials, and this latest effort in Care Access’ mission to bring clinical research to hard-to-reach and underrepresented communities is the first step in Care Access’ goal to expand clinical trial access across the country. The opening in Canada comes less than a year after Care Access expanded in Brazil with its acquisition of IBPClin in June 2022.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality on Cape Breton Island is the second largest population center in Atlantic Canada and home to the second largest university in Nova Scotia, with a new medical campus and other historic investments in infrastructure underway. Yet, less than 5% of Phase 1 - 3 trials taking place in Nova Scotia were available to physicians and patients in Cape Breton. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, with the most active clinical research networks, also see the best health outcomes for patients across the nation. Growing clinical research opportunities into Cape Breton Regional Municipality and other traditionally underrepresented communities will help improve the local health system and their citizens’ health outcomes.

“Expanding access to a historically underserved community such as Cape Breton helps break down long-standing barriers to care that local patients face,” said Ahmad Namvargolian, CEO and Co-Founder of Care Access. “Cape Breton is just the beginning for Care Access in Canada. We’re going to continue making good on our promise to expand global access to clinical research to those traditionally left out of the process.”

With its unique combination of 150+ global permanent site locations and a robust pre-screening program supported by a fleet of mobile research vehicles and traveling clinicians, Care Access brings research to hard-to-reach communities even in remote corners of Canada. In the future, the company plans to leverage its Sites On Demand™ program and its mobile research infrastructure and capabilities to reach communities that otherwise would not have access to clinical trials.

“Rural communities, often disproportionately impacted by disease and chronic conditions, are usually overlooked for clinical trials. Patients from communities like ours have additional barriers to accessing larger healthcare facilities where clinical research typically takes place,” said Dr. Paul MacDonald, cardiologist and Medical Site co-Lead for Cape Breton Regional Hospital. “By expanding access to clinical research beyond larger urban hospital settings and making it more accessible, we’ll be able to reach communities that may benefit the most and who aren’t usually represented in medical advancements.”

The Cape Breton facility will open with two clinical trials - a COVID-19 study and a cardiovascular study. For more information on active studies at this site, visit ca.careaccess.com.

“My main goal as a physician is to ensure I’m offering the best, most advanced treatment options for my patients,” said Dr. Berit Dool, Principal Investigator at Care Access and family physician to the Cape Breton community. “Joining the team as a physician and PI for trials in Cape Breton allows me to do just that and more for my community and patients. It’s encouraging to have companies like Care Access bring their expertise and resources to rural communities with our collective mission to advance drug discovery and improve patient outcomes.”

If you’re a physician interested in getting involved and learning how you can offer clinical research to your community, contact site.capebreton.ns@careaccess.com.

If you’re a Sponsor wanting support reaching your diversity and representation goals via our Sites On Demand™ program, contact sales@careaccess.com.

About Care Access

Care Access is a global research site. We accelerate the availability of more new treatments and therapies through our unique site infrastructure and ability to cultivate research-empowered communities. Our innovative model brings a global network of Permanent Site Locations, Mobile Screening Capabilities, and Site Support Solutions to new-to-research patient populations to expand the impact of clinical trials. Supported by top pharmaceutical and biotech partners across 13 different therapeutic areas, Care Access is scaling and globalizing its model for clinical trial delivery, where more physicians and patients can engage in life-saving research to develop new therapies faster. To find out how Care Access can help achieve your research diversity and representation goals, visit www.careaccess.com.

Contact

Alyssa Horowitz, media@careaccess.com