Tempe, Ariz.-based Clinical Research Advantage (CRA), a provider of research services to pharmaceutical companies and CROs, will begin offering patients throughout rural Nebraska the opportunity to participate in additional clinical trials.

Currently, CRA offers trials through its site at Prairie Fields Family Medicine (PPFM), a large clinic in Fremont, Neb., with three physicians and three physician assistants.

The additional trials are the result of CRA adding another physician practice to its research site presence at PPFM, with three physicians, three physician assistants and a nurse practitioner.

Under the direction of Dr. Thomas McKnight, president of PFFM and principal investigator for clinical trials, Prairie Fields Family Medicine and 23rd Family Medicine, a separate family practice group based at the same location, are making study opportunities available to patients for diagnosis and vaccines that span, among others, pediatric vaccines (some may satisfy school requirements); Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

“Our expanded relationship with 23rd Family Medicine stands to bring many benefits to the communities spread throughout rural Nebraska,” said Tony Romero, CRA’s director of operations, who oversees the Nebraska market operations. “With this arrangement, we have opportunities to bring patients access to cutting-edge medications and education regarding their conditions that could potentially enhance their quality of life by changing their state of health.”

“CRA has worked closely with my practice and physicians for the past year, and has continually demonstrated to patients the advantages they can reap from participation in sponsored trials,” said McKnight. “It’s dedicated companies like CRA that are making a difference in the level of healthcare made available across local medical communities throughout the country, particularly here in rural Nebraska.”

CRA forges partnerships with medical practices whose physicians serve as principal investigators of the clinical trials it manages and oversees. As a trial management organization (TMO), CRA operates from 33 sites across 17 geographic markets nationwide, helping sponsors bring drugs to market more quickly and efficiently. In Nebraska and Western Iowa, CRA operates four other sites.