Clinical Trials Diverse Communities: FOMAT and Golden Valley Health Centers Partner
Clinical trials diverse communities across North Central California will now have access to through a new partnership between FOMAT and Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC). Announced on December 17, 2024, this alliance is designed to bring innovative clinical research directly to over 160,000 patients across Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties, improving access to advanced therapies and striving for equitable healthcare.
GVHC, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare providers in Central and Northern California, serves highly diverse populations including Hispanic, Asian, Black, and American Indian patients. Through this partnership, both organizations aim to break down barriers that have historically kept underrepresented groups out of clinical research, making clinical trials diverse communities in the region have long been excluded from finally accessible and integrated into routine care.
A First for Golden Valley Health Centers
For GVHC, this collaboration represents a historic milestone — the organization is integrating clinical research into its comprehensive care model for the first time in its history. Since 1972, GVHC has served thousands of residents living in rural communities and those without access to comprehensive healthcare, operating across 47 locations in three counties and serving nearly 200,000 patients annually.
“Golden Valley Health Centers’ partnership with FOMAT introduces an essential new facet of care for our patients,” said David Quackenbush, President and CEO of GVHC. “Incorporating clinical research into our healthcare services furthers our mission of delivering high quality healthcare for all and allows us to provide our patients access to the latest advancements in medicine.”
What the Partnership Will Cover
Through this collaboration, FOMAT and GVHC will drive impactful studies across multiple therapeutic areas, including pediatrics, women’s health, geriatrics, and behavioral health. The partnership leverages GVHC’s deep community trust alongside FOMAT’s expertise in patient recruitment and clinical operations to ensure research reaches the populations that need it most.
FOMAT’s hub and spoke model fully integrates research into a health system through direct local investment in clinical trial infrastructure. This approach facilitates a seamless care offering to patients while minimizing disruption to GVHC’s primary mission of providing critical access to care in underserved communities.
“Partnering with Golden Valley Health Centers aligns with our mission to expand diverse clinical research options in underserved communities,” said Nicholas Focil, CEO of FOMAT. “This collaboration is a vital step in ensuring that all communities, particularly those often overlooked, have access to innovative therapies that can make a real difference.”
Aligned With New FDA Diversity Guidance
This partnership comes at a critical moment for the clinical research industry. Recently updated FDA guidance will change how pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical research, mandating population inclusivity strategies and data collection that more accurately reflect the diversity of patients who will ultimately use new therapies. According to the FDA’s diversity action plan guidance, sponsors are now expected to submit plans that address underrepresentation in trials.
By bringing clinical trials diverse communities across the Central Valley rely on for their care, FOMAT and GVHC are directly aligned with this regulatory shift — ensuring that much needed diversity and inclusion data is properly represented in clinical trial results.
About FOMAT
FOMAT is a leading Site Management Organization dedicated to advancing clinical trials and improving patient care through diversity and innovation. With a network of research sites nationally across the U.S., FOMAT specializes in conducting Phase I through IV studies across therapeutic areas including oncology, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases. FOMAT’s highly trained bilingual staff works closely with sponsors, CROs, and healthcare providers to ensure the success of every study.
To learn more about how FOMAT brings clinical trials to diverse communities across the country, visit our Physician Investigator Network page or explore our Active Studies to find current research opportunities near you.