BOSTON and DURHAM, N.C.—Parexel, one of the world’s largest clinical research organizations (CROs) providing the full range of Phase I to IV clinical development services, today has announced a formal agreement with MyEyeDr., a leading vision healthcare organization with over 850 offices across the U.S., to refer its patients into existing and future ophthalmology clinical trials. Parexel and MyEyeDr. are currently collaborating on recruitment for a diabetic retinopathy clinical trial with future plans to expand into additional therapeutic areas such as endocrinology.

“Meeting patients where they already are—such as centers providing annual routine eye exams and other vision care—is vital to the development of new therapies,” said Clare Grace, PhD, chief patient officer for Parexel. “By fostering relationships with the broader healthcare community, we’re able to raise awareness and ensure more patients are exposed to clinical research as a care option, in turn increasing our reach for clinical trial recruitment and, ultimately, speeding the availability of life-changing treatments.”

Through the collaboration, Parexel and MyEyeDr. will partner on recruitment of patients for a wide variety of ophthalmology indications, including macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of visual disability worldwide. By leveraging MyEyeDr.’s offices across 28 states, the companies will be able to disseminate information directly to the types of patients needed for ophthalmology studies with opportunities for expansion into other adjacent therapeutic areas.

Under the agreement, MyEyeDr. will be part of Parexel’s Community Alliance Network, a novel program launched in June further integrating clinical research into the community healthcare setting to better serve patients and in turn create further opportunity for increased diversity in clinical trials. MyEyeDr joins CVS Health, the leading health care solutions company, and Javara, the leading integrated research organization, as members of the network.

“Part of providing our patients with the best vision and healthcare means making them aware of all possible treatment options, including clinical research,” said Artis Beatty, OD, chief medical officer, MyEyeDr. “We’re excited to partner with Parexel—MyEyeDr.’s first collaboration with a CRO—to share the option of clinical trial participation with our community of patients.”

MyEyeDr. is a recognized leader in full scope optometry and personalized optical services. It is owned by Capital Vision Services, LP, which manages independently-owned optometry practices. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Vienna, Va., Capital Vision Services is the nation’s largest and most experienced practice management services company with the goal of protecting independent optometry.

Parexel is among the world’s largest clinical research organizations (CROs), providing the full range of Phase I to IV clinical development services to help life-saving treatments reach patients faster. Leveraging the breadth of our clinical, regulatory and therapeutic expertise, its team of more than 21,000 global professionals collaborates with biopharmaceutical leaders, emerging innovators and sites to design and deliver clinical trials with patients in mind, increasing access and participation to make clinical research a care option for anyone, anywhere. The company has a track record of over 40 years, advancing clinical research in complex healthcare areas, with an innovation ecosystem to offer solutions to make every phase of the clinical trial process more efficient.