FOMAT has opened a new hub, making clinical research in Santa Maria, California more accessible than ever for underserved communities in the region. Building on years of active research presence in the area, this expansion strengthens the organization’s capacity to connect residents with innovative treatment options through Phase I through Phase IV clinical trials. The move reflects FOMAT’s broader commitment to addressing healthcare disparities by bringing research directly to the populations that need it most.
Why clinical research in Santa Maria matters
Santa Maria is a community defined by its diversity. With a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, a significant number of Spanish-speaking households, and a substantial portion of residents without adequate health insurance, the city represents exactly the kind of community that has historically been underrepresented in clinical trials. Expanding clinical research in Santa Maria is not just an operational decision — it is a direct response to a documented gap in healthcare access.
Underrepresentation in research has real consequences. When clinical trial populations do not reflect the diversity of the patients who will ultimately use a treatment, the resulting data is less reliable for those populations. FOMAT’s approach prioritizes inclusive recruitment to generate results that reflect real-world patient populations, improving health outcomes for everyone.
What the Santa Maria office brings to the community
The new Santa Maria site is equipped to support studies across multiple therapeutic areas, including gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and ophthalmology. With 12 Principal Investigators associated with the site and a patient database of over 126,000 individuals, the office has both the clinical depth and the community reach to activate studies rapidly and recruit effectively.
This scale matters for sponsors and CROs evaluating site selection. A site with an established patient database and experienced investigators is positioned to meet enrollment targets faster and with greater demographic diversity. FOMAT’s patient recruitment capabilities are built around exactly this model — connecting sponsors with pre-identified, diverse patient populations through trusted community-based physician relationships.
“Our expansion into Santa Maria reflects our unwavering commitment to improving access to clinical research for diverse populations,” said Nicholas Focil, CEO of FOMAT. “By creating inclusive opportunities for participation, we not only advance medical science but also tackle the healthcare disparities affecting underserved communities.”
FOMAT’s embedded research model in action
The Santa Maria expansion is a direct application of FOMAT’s embedded research organization model, which integrates clinical trial operations into established physician offices where patients already have existing relationships and trust. This approach reduces barriers to participation, accelerates study activation, and improves retention rates — all critical factors for sponsors managing timelines and data quality.
By partnering with local healthcare providers and community organizations, the Santa Maria office serves as a hub connecting residents with clinical research opportunities. These partnerships extend FOMAT’s reach beyond the clinic and into the community, enabling the kind of broad participation that produces statistically meaningful and demographically representative data. According to the Mayo Clinic, diverse participation in clinical trials is essential for ensuring that treatments work effectively across different populations.
FOMAT’s diversity in clinical trials capabilities reflect this commitment at an organizational level, with bilingual staff, Spanish-language materials, and recruitment practices designed to remove linguistic and cultural barriers to participation.
Regional growth that serves both community and science
The Santa Maria office is part of FOMAT’s continued national expansion, reinforcing its position as a leader in community-based clinical research. With a proven track record of delivering high-quality data for sponsors across Phase I through Phase IV studies, FOMAT brings to Santa Maria the same operational infrastructure that has made it a trusted research partner across the United States.
For sponsors and CROs evaluating sites for upcoming studies, clinical research in Santa Maria through FOMAT means access to a diverse, engaged patient population, experienced investigators across multiple therapeutic areas, and a site activation model built for speed and quality.
“Our work in Santa Maria goes beyond research — it is about building relationships, empowering communities, and paving the way for a healthier future,” added Nicholas Focil. “We are dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of the people we serve, and this new office is a tangible step in that direction.”
Advancing clinical research access across California and beyond
FOMAT’s expansion into Santa Maria underscores a simple but important principle: access to clinical research should not be determined by geography or socioeconomic status. By establishing a stronger presence in communities like Santa Maria, FOMAT advances both local healthcare equity and the global science that depends on inclusive, high-quality research.
For sponsors and CROs looking to partner with a research organization that combines operational excellence with genuine community integration, FOMAT’s growing network of investigator sites offers a differentiated and proven solution. Learn more about FOMAT’s Phase II and III clinical trial capabilities and how our sites support diverse, high-quality research nationwide.