Latin Clinical Trial Center Becomes Part of PhaseWell Research, Expanding Research and Therapeutic Access
PhaseWell Research, a rapidly growing multisite clinical research organization dedicated to expanding access to clinical trials across diverse communities, has announced a strategic partnership with Latin Clinical Trial Center (LCTC), one of Puerto Rico’s most established and respected clinical research institutions. The collaboration marks a significant step in PhaseWell’s nationwide expansion strategy and reinforces its commitment to increasing participation in clinical research while bringing innovative treatment opportunities to underserved populations.
The partnership adds a highly experienced research site to PhaseWell’s growing network and extends the company’s reach into Puerto Rico, a region with considerable scientific talent and patient populations that have historically been underrepresented in clinical studies. By integrating LCTC into its national platform, PhaseWell aims to enhance access to clinical trials for thousands of patients across the island while strengthening its capabilities in several important therapeutic areas.
Founded and led by Principal Investigator Dr. Carlos A. Sariol, with operational leadership from Site Leader Anmari Ferrer, Latin Clinical Trial Center has spent nearly two decades building a reputation for excellence in clinical research. The organization has conducted more than 85 Phase II through Phase IV clinical studies and has contributed to the development of multiple approved therapies. Its strong patient engagement model, high retention rates, and broad therapeutic expertise have established it as one of Puerto Rico’s leading clinical research centers.
Expanding Access to Clinical Research
At the heart of the partnership is a shared mission to improve patient access to clinical trials and ensure broader representation in medical research.
Clinical trials play a critical role in evaluating the safety and effectiveness of new treatments before they become widely available. However, many patient populations remain underrepresented in research, limiting the diversity of clinical data and potentially affecting the development of therapies intended for broad patient populations.
PhaseWell Research was founded to address this challenge by creating a network of trusted, community-based research sites capable of bringing innovative studies directly to patients. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the company focuses on increasing participation in clinical trials through high-performing research centers and community healthcare partnerships across the United States.
The addition of LCTC aligns closely with this vision. Puerto Rico’s diverse and multicultural population offers an important opportunity to expand representation in clinical research while providing local patients with access to cutting-edge investigational therapies.
According to PhaseWell leadership, expanding into Puerto Rico is not simply about geographic growth but about ensuring that more patients have the opportunity to participate in research that may shape the future of medicine.
A Trusted Leader in Puerto Rican Clinical Research
Latin Clinical Trial Center has established itself as one of the most respected research organizations in Puerto Rico since its founding in 2006.
Over the past two decades, the center has completed more than 85 clinical studies spanning a wide range of therapeutic areas and has played a role in supporting the development of more than ten approved medical products. Through consistent delivery of high-quality clinical data and strong patient engagement, LCTC has earned a reputation among sponsors, investigators, and healthcare providers for scientific rigor and operational excellence.
One of the organization’s most notable achievements is its patient retention rate, which exceeds 96 percent. Patient retention is a critical metric in clinical research because it reflects both participant satisfaction and the ability of a site to successfully guide patients through study completion.
Maintaining such a high retention rate over many years demonstrates the trust LCTC has built within the local community and highlights its patient-centered approach to clinical trial management.
The center also benefits from access to a large patient population throughout the San Juan region and surrounding communities. Its deep community roots provide opportunities to recruit participants efficiently while maintaining strong engagement throughout study participation.
Strengthening PhaseWell’s Therapeutic Expertise
The partnership brings significant clinical and scientific expertise to the broader PhaseWell network.
LCTC has extensive experience conducting studies across multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cardiovascular medicine, immunology, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, vaccines, pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, hepatology, neuroscience, and women’s health.
This broad therapeutic footprint complements PhaseWell’s existing research capabilities and enhances the organization’s ability to support sponsors seeking experienced sites for complex clinical development programs.
In particular, LCTC’s strength in cardiometabolic research aligns closely with one of PhaseWell’s core areas of focus. The site’s experience managing studies involving metabolic and cardiovascular conditions provides valuable expertise that can support future clinical programs within the network.
The partnership also expands PhaseWell’s capabilities in immunology, infectious disease, pulmonary medicine, and several other specialty areas that continue to attract substantial research investment across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
By incorporating LCTC’s capabilities into its national platform, PhaseWell is better positioned to support sponsors conducting multicenter studies across diverse patient populations and therapeutic categories.
Leadership Highlights Strategic Importance
Carsten Bick, Chief Executive Officer of PhaseWell Research, emphasized the significance of bringing a leading Puerto Rican research institution into the company’s expanding network.
He noted that Puerto Rico possesses tremendous clinical research potential and highly capable patient communities, yet remains underrepresented in many clinical development programs. According to Bick, LCTC serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved when high-quality research infrastructure is combined with strong community engagement.
He added that integrating LCTC into PhaseWell’s network will increase access to clinical trials for patients throughout Puerto Rico, advancing the company’s mission of expanding participation in medical research.
Roberto Ramirez, Chief Financial Officer of PhaseWell Research, also highlighted the qualities that made LCTC an attractive partner.
He pointed to the leadership of Dr. Sariol and Anmari Ferrer, emphasizing their commitment to scientific excellence, patient engagement, and consistent delivery of high-quality data. Ramirez noted that the center’s cardiometabolic expertise strengthens one of PhaseWell’s key therapeutic pillars while its experience across multiple specialties significantly broadens the network’s overall capabilities.
He described the partnership as an opportunity to further expand access to clinical research opportunities across Puerto Rico while enhancing the quality and diversity of studies conducted within the PhaseWell system.
Shared Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
For LCTC, joining the PhaseWell network represents an opportunity to amplify its impact while maintaining its longstanding commitment to patient-centered research.
Dr. Carlos A. Sariol, Founder and Principal Investigator of Latin Clinical Trial Center, emphasized that the organization has spent years working to ensure that patients from Puerto Rico and other multicultural communities are represented in the development of future therapies.
He noted that clinical research should reflect the diversity of the populations that ultimately use approved treatments. According to Sariol, expanding participation among underrepresented groups is essential for generating more inclusive scientific evidence and improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.
The partnership with PhaseWell provides access to additional infrastructure, operational resources, and national reach that can help LCTC expand its research activities while remaining closely connected to the local communities it serves.
Sariol expressed confidence that the collaboration would allow both organizations to bring more innovative clinical trials to Puerto Rico while preserving the values and patient-focused culture that have guided LCTC since its founding.
Supporting the Full Clinical Development Continuum
The addition of LCTC further advances PhaseWell’s broader strategy of building a comprehensive network of trusted research sites capable of supporting studies across the entire clinical development spectrum.
The company’s network is designed to conduct Phase I through Phase IV clinical trials and support programs ranging from early-stage safety assessments to post-approval studies.
PhaseWell has established particular strength in high-demand therapeutic areas such as oncology, central nervous system disorders, and cardiometabolic disease. These areas continue to represent major priorities for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing innovative therapies.
Collectively, sites within the PhaseWell network have completed more than 2,285 clinical trials and contributed to the development and approval of over 195 therapies. These accomplishments reflect the organization’s growing influence within the clinical research ecosystem and its ability to support sponsors across a broad range of development programs.
The partnership between PhaseWell Research and Latin Clinical Trial Center represents more than a network expansion—it reflects a shared commitment to improving access to clinical research, increasing patient diversity in trials, and accelerating the development of new therapies.
By combining PhaseWell’s national infrastructure with LCTC’s established reputation and deep community relationships in Puerto Rico, the organizations aim to create new opportunities for patients, investigators, and sponsors alike.
As clinical research continues to evolve toward greater inclusivity and patient engagement, collaborations such as this one are expected to play an increasingly important role in ensuring that medical innovation reaches broader populations and generates evidence that reflects the diversity of real-world healthcare communities.
With expanded geographic reach, strengthened therapeutic expertise, and a continued focus on patient-centered research, PhaseWell and LCTC are positioned to contribute meaningfully to the future of clinical development while bringing hope and new treatment possibilities to patients across Puerto Rico and beyond.
About PhaseWell Research
PhaseWell Research is a wholly owned, investigator-led multisite clinical research company. The company partners with sponsors and CROs to support Phase I-IV clinical trials across complex, high-demand therapeutic areas. Rooted in the communities it serves, PhaseWell expands access to advanced clinical research for patients who may otherwise have limited opportunities to participate. The network has completed more than 2,285 clinical trials and contributed to the approval of more than 195 therapies. For more information, visit www.phasewell.com.
About Latin Clinical Trial Center
Latin Clinical Trial Center (LCTC) is a dedicated Phase II–IV clinical research site located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, founded in 2006 by Dr. Carlos A. Sariol. With two decades of continuous operation, LCTC has conducted more than 85 clinical studies and contributed to the development and approval of more than 10 therapeutic products (one every two years).
The site specializes in cardiometabolic, cardiovascular, immunologic and autoimmune, infectious disease, vaccine, pulmonary, gastroenterology/hepatology, neuroscience, and women’s health. LCTC is recognized for its scientific rigor, patient-centered approach, and consistent delivery of high-quality clinical data, with a patient retention rate exceeding 96%.
