This dynamic duo met almost 20 years ago, became friends and quickly recognized their common interest in healthcare and improving access and quality of care for all people. Ultimately, they joined together and founded Medovation Clinical Research. Their mission is simple but meaningful: To play a strategic role in the transformation of medicine, improving the health and wellbeing of ALL populations by making it easy for innovative providers to participate in research AND by engaging with diverse populations to raise awareness, interest, and acceptance of trial participation.
Learn more about this powerhouse team below!
Q&A: With Medovation Clinical Research
Co-Founders Helen Combs & Kirstan Cecil
The Vision Behind Our Clinical Research Company
Q: Why did you decide to start Medovation Clinical Research?
A: Both of us have spent our careers in the healthcare and clinical research space. We have worked with a diverse patient mix and fully understand the need for increased access to care options for all populations. We have also had the honor of working with leading physicians in their area of specialty and experienced first-hand what they can accomplish with their personal drive. Our decision to start this company stemmed from our discussions with many of the providers we worked with and learning about their interest in clinical research but also understanding their concerns about taking on such a significant endeavor without the support of a team with rich experiences in research. Our desire to make a meaningful impact paired with these meaningful provider relationships made our decision very easy. With years of hands-on experience, we saw a significant opportunity to help research-naive sites get more involved in clinical trials. We recognized that these sites often have the potential to contribute greatly to research but lack the necessary resources or knowledge to participate effectively. By leveraging our deep expertise, we aim to guide these sites, ensuring they can play an active role in advancing medical research.
Q: How do you see your work increasing diversity in clinical trials?
A: Increasing diversity in clinical trials is a core passion for us. We understand that diverse populations are often underrepresented in clinical research, which can lead to gaps in understanding how treatments affect different groups. Our goal is to ensure that clinical trials reflect the diversity of the real-world population. By doing so, we can help develop therapies that are effective for a broader range of people, ultimately improving health outcomes across diverse communities. We know the key to success here is engaging with more community-based physicians who have diverse patient populations and the long standing, trusted relationships and trust built will help increase participant engagement.
Q: How do you plan to expand access to novel therapies?
A: Expanding access to novel therapies is central to our mission. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from the latest advancements in medical science. To achieve this, we focus on engaging and supporting a wide variety of research sites, including those in underserved areas. By providing these sites with the tools, training, and support they need, we can help ensure that more people have access to cutting-edge treatments and therapies.
Q: Can you tell us about your experience in building teams and how it influences your company’s culture?
A: Our experience in building teams has taught us the importance of having a dedicated and passionate workforce. We have always prioritized creating teams that are not only skilled but also deeply committed to making a difference. This philosophy is embedded in our company culture. Our team members share a common goal of advancing clinical research and improving patient outcomes. Their passion and dedication drive our success and inspire us to continually push the boundaries of what’s possible in clinical research.