Tekton Research’s recent announcement of two new research sites in New Carlisle, Ohio, and Englewood, New Jersey, reflects more than geographic growth. It offers a clear view into how multisite clinical research corporations (MCRCs) are evolving from collections of sites into scalable research infrastructure designed for speed, quality, and access.
As sponsors and CROs face rising development costs, more complex protocols, and increasing pressure to enroll diverse populations quickly, Tekton’s expansion strategy highlights several trends shaping the future of clinical research.
Density over footprint
Rather than pursuing expansion for scale alone, Tekton is deliberately building regional density through a hub-and-spoke model. By strengthening its presence in the Midwest and Northeast, the organization is able to share operational resources, accelerate study startup, and apply standardized processes across sites that function as a coordinated network.
“These new sites are a deliberate investment in the future of Tekton,” said Corey Collins, CEO of Tekton Research. “By expanding within communities where trusted physicians already care for patients every day, we’re creating a scalable research infrastructure that will support our growth for years to come.”
This focus on density, rather than a dispersed national footprint, allows Tekton to launch studies more efficiently while maintaining consistent oversight. It reflects a broader industry shift toward predictability and repeatability, where performance is driven by systems and structure, not individual sites operating in isolation.
Community-embedded sites as strategic assets
Both new Tekton locations are embedded within established community practices: New Carlisle Family Practice in Ohio and The Brain Health Center in Englewood, New Jersey. This embedded model is becoming increasingly important for trials that rely on long-term patient relationships, trust, and real-world clinical settings.
In Ohio, the New Carlisle site supports studies across cardiometabolic, respiratory, dermatologic, and general medicine indications, drawing from both an active clinic population and the wider Dayton metro area. In New Jersey, the Englewood site brings a neuroscience focus supported by a research-naïve database of 5,000 patients and a patient population that is approximately 50% Korean American.
“Partnering with experienced clinicians embedded within their communities allows us to expand access for patients while strengthening our ability to deliver fast, high-quality research for sponsors and CRO partners,” Collins noted.
For patients, embedded research reduces barriers to participation by integrating trials into familiar care environments. For sponsors, it provides access to well-characterized populations, stronger retention, and more reliable medical histories, particularly valuable in complex CNS and chronic disease studies.
Quality by design, not geography
A common challenge in network expansion is maintaining consistency as new sites are added. Tekton addresses this by embedding quality into its operating model from the outset.
Every new site is onboarded through a structured process that includes standardized SOPs, regulatory and safety training, shared workflows, and centralized data practices. Sites are supported by ongoing QA engagement, inspection-readiness checks, and shared performance dashboards that provide real-time visibility across the network.
“Our model helps us enroll faster, deliver higher-quality data, and meet the needs of our sponsors with consistency,” Collins said. “That consistency is critical as trials become more complex and timelines more compressed.”
Mentorship from experienced investigators and therapeutic-area experts further ensures that newer sites can scale without sacrificing rigor, which is an increasingly important differentiator for MCRCs supporting global development programs.
Preparing for the next wave of neuroscience research
Tekton’s expansion also underscores its growing investment in neuroscience. CNS trials require specialized infrastructure, from rater training and inter-rater reliability to careful oversight of cognitively impaired participants.
By pairing community-based practices with centralized CNS expertise and operational support, Tekton is positioning itself to scale studies in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, vertigo, and chronic neurologic conditions; areas where longitudinal follow-up and patient trust are essential.
“Our goal is to scale quickly without compromising quality,” Collins emphasized. “That means investing early in training, oversight, and infrastructure so our sites are prepared before demand peaks.”
What this signals for the industry
Tekton’s growth illustrates a broader evolution underway across multisite research organizations. Expansion today is less about counting sites and more about building durable, interoperable infrastructure that connects community trust with centralized execution.
For sponsors and CROs, this model offers faster startup, predictable enrollment, and consistent performance. For patients, it expands access through clinicians they already know. And for the clinical research ecosystem, it points toward a more sustainable approach that is grounded in long-term partnerships, shared standards, and regional strength.
As AMRC continues to advance clarity around the MCRC model, examples like Tekton’s demonstrate why multisite corporations are becoming foundational to the future of clinical development; not simply as vendors, but as strategic partners embedded where research truly happens.
