EmVenio Research, which specializes in community research, inked a deal with the U.K.’s largest mobile clinical research group EMS Healthcare to operate 10 mobile sites for clinical trials across England, Wales and Scotland.
It is the first overseas move by the Durham, North Carolina-based company and is part of its efforts to reach a wider demographic of research participants and diversify clinical trial offerings beyond U.S. shores, the company said in a June 20 press release.
Financial terms of the collaboration weren’t disclosed.
The mobile units will allow clinical trials to reach participants in a wider variety of communities in both rural and urban settings as well as capturing more diverse demographics, the company said. The mobile units, along with local hires and local agencies with knowledge of each community, will help reduce transportation and mobility barriers for patients.
“It’s really about decreasing barriers for people participating in clinical trials,” Keith Henthorne, EmVenio’s chief executive, told Fierce. “A main barrier for them is getting to brick and mortar sites, but with the mobile units we will be reaching people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate.”
The company takes a grassroots approach to its work by “utilizing a lot of data sources to identify where underserved populations are and what diseases are prevalent in that community,” Henthorne said.
“It’s not just about being socially responsible but it’s also good science,” he added.
The company is looking to expand further into Europe in the next two years while keeping a focus on improving diversity in clinical trials.
In May, EmVenio announced it activated a mobile community research site in Chicago on the Illinois Medical District campus. The company has 10 locations in the U.S. where it operates community research sites.