“Expanding access to clinical research starts with making opportunities available in more communities.”
News|Articles|October 30, 2026
Walmart and Care Access Plan Three More Clinical Trial Centers in Michigan, Nevada, and Texas
Author(s)Andy Studna, Senior Editor
The planned sites in Livonia, Las Vegas, and San Antonio would expand a partnership that places clinical research and health screenings inside Walmart stores.
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The Walmart Healthcare Research Institute (WHRI) and Care Access, a health and research company, announced plans to open three additional Clinical Trial Centers in Livonia, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Antonio, Texas, in the first half of 2027.1
The expansion builds on the partnership’s first four centers, in Houston and Tyler, Texas; Dalton, Georgia; and Brandon, Florida. Walmart and Care Access marked the progress with a grand opening event at the Houston location.
The announcement framed the model as a response to a common hurdle: traditional clinical research can mean finding a study site far from home or navigating unfamiliar processes.
What the centers offer
The centers will support Phase II, III, and IV clinical trials, according to the announcement. Care Access teams will offer opportunities to take part in trials, with cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and GLP-1 therapies among the areas named, depending on local study availability. They will also provide health screenings, including advanced biomarker blood testing as available, along with tailored health education and one-on-one consultations about research opportunities. Study offerings and eligibility vary by location.
Care Access leads clinical operations at the centers, drawing on a network of more than 200 clinical research sites around the world and its global Future of Medicine community health screening program. WHRI supports research awareness and accessibility by connecting that expertise with Walmart’s community presence and reach.
Participation is voluntary, and individuals are welcome to visit a location to learn more about available screenings and research opportunities.
“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, in the announcement.
For Walmart, the focus is on reach. “Expanding access to clinical research starts with making opportunities available in more communities,” added Emily Aaronson, MD, MPH, chief medical officer at Walmart.
Walmart’s commitment goes beyond opening new trial sites. Through nationwide outreach and recruitment efforts, WHRI is also helping connect people to clinical trials already underway in their communities.
Eli Lilly and Company also weighed in. “With studies enrolling through these centers, we’re encouraged by the opportunity to engage people who may not otherwise participate, improve representation and generate evidence that reflects the patients and communities we hope to serve,” said Michael Franklin, vice president, community-based research and innovation, Eli Lilly and Company.
Where the partnership started
Walmart officially unveiled this partnership earlier in April. The announcement said the centers would sit at the front of Walmart stores, where many customers pass by as part of their daily routines, and that the first locations would focus on heart and brain health at launch.2
WHRI was created to expand access to clinical trials and research and help improve care for underserved communities, the original announcement said, noting that many individuals have been excluded from research because of barriers like distance, time, and cost.
“For many, taking part in clinical research has never been about willingness, it has been about access. Distance, time and awareness have made participation feel out of reach,” Aaronson said in the April press release.
References
- Walmart and Care Access Plan Three Additional Clinical Trial Centers to Expand Access to Medical Research. News release. Walmart. October 27, 2026.
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/10/additional-clinical-trial-centers-planned - Expanding Access to Clinical Research: Walmart Healthcare Research Institute and Care Access Open First Locations in Texas and Georgia. News release. Walmart. April 29, 2026.
https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/04/29/expanding-access-to-clinical-research-walmart-healthcare-research-institute-and-care-access-open-first-locations-in-texas-and-georgia
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