Empathx Clinical Research, a Tampa Bay, Florida-based clinical research organization, has joined hyperCORE International's global partner site network, marking a significant expansion in the network's U.S. footprint. The partnership aims to leverage Empathx's hybrid model of stand-alone research centers and integrated sites within physician practices to bring clinical trials closer to patients.
Empathx operates eight clinical trial sites across six states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas. The organization specializes in key therapeutic areas including cardio-metabolic disease, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, nephrology, and infectious disease. By embedding research within large, specialized physician practices, Empathx enables patients to participate in trials at the same locations where they receive routine care, improving access and retention.
CEO Dustin Owen, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Accelerated Enrollment Solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific/PPD, emphasized the strategic alignment with hyperCORE. "Joining hyperCORE is about partnering with like-minded, high quality site networks with similar mission," Owen said. "The partnership enhances our ability to work with sponsors to bring life-changing therapies to our communities. Our added scale, geographic coverage, and access to diverse patient populations gives sponsors a reliable solution for delivering on clinical trials."
hyperCORE International President Nicholas Focil welcomed Empathx, highlighting its therapeutic expertise and innovative site integration. "Empathx Clinical Research brings a strong blend of therapeutic expertise, geographic reach, and innovative site integration to our partner network," Focil said. "Their approach to embedding research in clinical care aligns with hyperCORE's mission to expand patient access and deliver high-quality trials."
hyperCORE International is a partner site network comprising leading clinical research organizations with more than 80 active trial sites across five countries. Collectively, hyperCORE partners have completed over 7,000 studies involving more than 140,000 randomized participants. The network provides harmonized operational frameworks to support consistent, high-quality trial execution.
This partnership underscores the growing trend of integrating clinical research into routine healthcare settings, addressing common challenges such as patient recruitment and retention. For sponsors, the expanded network offers a reliable solution with diverse patient populations and geographic coverage, potentially accelerating the development of new therapies.
