Gastroenterology clinical trials are now more accessible to patients across Central California following a new partnership between FOMAT and Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group. The agreement, finalized at the close of Q2 2021, was solidified by Nicholas Focil, CEO of FOMAT, and Igor J. Nastaskin, CEO of Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group, as both organizations committed to expanding clinical research access in a region that has historically been underserved by the medical research community.
A Partnership Built on Shared Expertise
Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group is the largest gastroenterology group in both Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. Their physicians and staff serve patients across offices in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande, providing specialized care in gastroenterology and hepatology in a compassionate, patient centered environment.
FOMAT brings over a decade of experience managing gastroenterology clinical trials, having worked with leading gastroenterology clinics and physicians across the country to execute research programs with precision and quality. The combination of Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group’s regional reach and patient relationships with FOMAT’s clinical research infrastructure creates a powerful platform for advancing gastrointestinal science at the community level.
What This Means for Patients
One of the most meaningful outcomes of this collaboration is direct patient access. Gastroenterology clinical trials have traditionally been concentrated at large university hospitals and academic medical centers — places that are often inaccessible to patients living in rural or semi rural communities. This partnership changes that dynamic.
Patients of Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group, along with members of the broader community in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, will now have the opportunity to participate in investigational studies that were previously out of reach. This includes trials evaluating new treatment options for conditions affecting the digestive system, liver, and related organs. Participants in clinical trials often gain early access to emerging therapies while contributing to research that benefits future patients.
Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Research
Central California is home to a large and diverse population, including a significant agricultural workforce and Latino community that has historically been underrepresented in clinical research. FOMAT’s mission centers on reaching exactly these populations — ensuring that the data generated in clinical trials reflects the real world diversity of patients who will ultimately use the treatments being studied.
About FOMAT
FOMAT is an Embedded Research Organization with more than 10 years of experience conducting Phase I through Phase IV clinical trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Its growing site network across the United States gives sponsors and CROs access to experienced investigator teams and diverse patient populations. To learn more about active studies or FOMAT’s gastroenterology capabilities, visit fomatmedical.com.
For More Information
- To learn more about our active studies, click here
- To contact FOMAT: [email protected]