ACRO’s Site Resource Grants are designed to serve as seed funding to help clinical research sites explore innovative strategies for improving clinical trial enrollment. Each grant allows the grantee site to enact a 12-month pilot project designed to educate and engage with their local community.
At Superior Clinical Research, based in rural North Carolina, the mission to increase access to clinical trials is being brought to life through a community-centered strategy that emphasizes education, outreach, and equity.
The site is spearheading an initiative that delivers healthcare services and raises research awareness to underserved populations – particularly racial minorities, women, and residents of medically underserved areas. Through a multifaceted approach, the team hosts events such as Health and Wellness Fairs, Community Baby Showers, CPR Training Days, and Clinical Site Open Houses. These events not only deliver vital health services, but they also introduce locals to the world of clinical research in an approachable, community-centered setting.
In addition to in-person events, monthly webinars and “Lunch and Learn” sessions keep the conversation going year-round, covering key topics like cardiovascular health, preventative care, and the life-changing potential of clinical trials. Their efforts are driven by a clear goal to bridge the gap between healthcare access, public awareness, and research participation – particularly within communities that are historically excluded or overlooked.
Internally, the team invests in ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion training, ensuring that every interaction, whether in the clinic or in the community, reflects cultural competence and trust. By fostering both external and internal growth, Superior Clinical Research is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and responsible research culture.
Their motivation for applying to the ACRO Site Resource Grant program was simple but urgent: their ambitious initiatives needed strong financial support to become reality. With this grant, they’re expanding their capacity to deliver health screenings, host educational events, and connect more people to both clinical trials and essential local health services.
Superior Clinical Research hopes the impact of this grant will be measured not just in the number of events hosted or trials filled, but in deeper community engagement and empowerment. By increasing awareness of clinical research, growing their participant database, and forging lasting collaboration with local clinics, mental health providers, nonprofits, and public health agencies, they aim to create a sustainable network of support for the populations they serve.
To the broader research and public health community, their message is one of partnership and purpose: medical research cannot, and should not, exist in a vacuum. Superior Clinical Research believes that community voices are vital to the future of medicine, and they are committed to ensuring those voices are heard, respected, and actively involved in every step of the way.
In North Carolina and beyond, their work serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful change starts at the community level — with real conversations, real relationships, and a shared commitment to health equity.
