IMA Clinical Research
IMA Clinical Research is a US multisite clinical research network within The IMA Group that runs Phase II-IV and decentralized clinical trials for pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs through 90+ full-service sites and 150+ satellite locations, supported by a 400K+ patient database.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IMA Clinical Research does
IMA Clinical Research is a US-based, multisite clinical research site network operating as the dedicated clinical research division of The IMA Group, which was founded in 1995 by David C. Pulver, MD and has grown from a single office to 90+ offices across 20 states plus the District of Columbia. The company provides Phase II through Phase IV and post-market clinical trials to pharmaceutical sponsors and Contract Research Organizations, delivering trials through site-based, hybrid, and fully decentralized models across 90+ full-service sites and 150+ satellite locations. Its primary customer segments are pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs seeking diverse patient enrollment, rapid study startup, and high-quality data; patients seeking access to investigational treatments represent a secondary, indirect segment served through recruitment.
Core offerings include a fully integrated Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) platform supporting centralized contracting, feasibility, budget development, IRB submissions, and accounting; a centralized Patient Outreach Center for longitudinal engagement with patients not typically reached onsite; a Patient Portal for remote participation management; and FlexBooker-integrated scheduling across locations. A stated 400K+ patient database with 10K+ unique patients seen weekly underpins recruitment and retention. Therapeutic coverage spans psychiatry, neurology, cardiometabolic, vaccines and infectious disease, gastrointestinal, pain, sleep, and digital therapeutics.
The business model is B2B fee-for-service clinical research, with revenue generated through study contracts negotiated directly with sponsors and CROs on a per-patient enrollment, milestone, and site-operational fee basis. The company is privately held (no public listing), headquartered in Tarrytown, NY (per the office locations data), has 501-1000 employees, and has executed three acquisitions — Clinical Trials of America (January 2023), Medical Research Network (2025), and Chicago Research Center (2025) — to expand CNS/psychiatric and Southeast US capabilities.
IMA Clinical Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IMA Clinical Research
- Legal name
- IMA Clinical Research
- Website
- https://imaresearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- IMA Clinical Research is a US multisite clinical research network within The IMA Group that runs Phase II-IV and decentralized clinical trials for pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs through 90+ full-service sites and 150+ satellite locations, supported by a 400K+ patient database.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IMA Clinical Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical Research Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination (HLAGACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Decentralized & Hybrid Trial Site Services (Home Health/Nursing) (HLAGACAH), Patient Recruitment, Site Feasibility & Trial Enablement CROs (HLAGAAAI)
Keywords
Where IMA Clinical Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
IMA Clinical Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Clinical Research Services: Fee-for-service clinical trial conduct providing Phase II-IV and post-market studies for pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs. Revenue generated through study contracts based on per-patient enrollment, study milestones, and site operational fees.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
IMA Clinical Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IMA Clinical Research operates a nationwide clinical trial site network providing Phase II-IV and post-market clinical study conduct for pharmaceutical sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Services are delivered through site-based, hybrid, and fully decentralized trial models across 90+ full-service sites and 150+ satellite locations, leveraging a 400K+ patient database and a centralized Patient Outreach Center for enrollment and longitudinal engagement.
Product overview
IMA Clinical Research operates as a flexible clinical trial site network offering site-based, hybrid, and fully decentralized clinical trials. The network consists of 15+ full-service clinical trial sites and 150+ satellite locations across the United States, providing access to over 400,000 patients in a rapidly growing database. Key offerings include: the core IMA Clinical Research Network platform with a fully integrated CTMS for centralized contracting, budgeting, and study management; the Patient Outreach Center for longitudinal patient engagement; a Patient Portal for remote participation management; and comprehensive therapeutic research across psychiatry, neurology, cardiometabolic conditions, vaccines, and other specialties. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions including Medical Research Network (CNS/psychiatric capabilities) and Chicago Research Center (sleep and CNS research), and serves pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs with high-quality data, diverse patient access, and rapid study startup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IMA Clinical Research Site Network
Quantifiable outcome
- High enrollment rates through access to 10K+ unique patients weekly
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use IMA Clinical Research
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
IMA Clinical Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
IMA Clinical Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Medical Research Network (MRN)coreAcquisition in 2025 extending therapeutic reach and capabilities in CNS research and increasing patient access to trials in New York metropolitan market. NYC Uptown location (formerly MRN) focuses on psychiatric disorders including ADHD, depression, psychedelics, panic disorder, GAD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, bipolar I & II, binge eating disorder.
- Chicago Research CentercoreAcquisition adding specialized CNS and sleep research capabilities including dedicated sleep lab infrastructure to support complex studies. Chicago location has participated in 800+ clinical trials since 2005.
- Clinical Trials of America (CTA)coreAcquired Louisiana-based clinical research company to expand presence in US southeast and enhance trial capabilities. CTA operated as a site network in Monroe, Louisiana.
- TakedaminorPharmaceutical sponsor participating in joint webinar on clinical research KPIs. Sean Cunningham, Senior Director, Study Site Engagement at Takeda, featured as speaker alongside IMA leadership.
- ParexelminorCRO partner participating in joint webinar on clinical research KPIs. Karen McIntyre, VP Global Site Alliances at Parexel, featured as speaker alongside IMA leadership.
- Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS)coreIndustry organization partnership for webinar programming and site network collaboration. IMA participates in SCRS events including Global Site Solutions Summit and benefits from organization resources and networking.
- Association of Multisite Research Corporations (AMRC)coreFounding member of AMRC, an organization advancing the multisite research model and strengthening collaboration, standardization, and quality across the clinical research industry.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IMA Clinical Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Centricity Research: Centricity Research is a North American clinical trial site network operating integrated research sites across the US and Canada. It is a directly comparable multisite research corporation (MRC) competing for the same sponsor and CRO study contracts as IMA Clinical Research.
- Evolution Research Group: Evolution Research Group operates a network of clinical trial sites specializing in CNS, early-phase, and specialty therapeutic research across the US. Its multi-site, CNS-focused model closely mirrors IMA's post-MRN/CRC build and targets the same sponsor customer base.
- Aventiv Research: Aventiv Research is a multi-site clinical research organization operating Phase II-IV trials across therapeutic areas including CNS and pain. It is referenced in IMA's leadership bios and competes in the same multisite research corporation category.
- Radiant Research: Radiant Research (now part of alternate ownership structures) is a historical US multisite research site network operating across multiple therapeutic areas. It is referenced in IMA's VP of Patient Recruitment background and represents the same SMO/MRC model.
Emerging players
- Flourish Research: Flourish Research is an emerging multi-site clinical research platform consolidating US-based research sites across multiple therapeutic areas. It is a partial overlap comparable as a growing SMO/MRC competitor targeting the same sponsor budgets.
Broad incumbents
- IQVIA: IQVIA is the largest global CRO with embedded site network (formerly Synexus/PRA) and full Phase I-IV services. It competes with IMA on site selection and site-network contracts as part of broader full-service offerings.
- ICON plc: ICON is a top-3 global CRO offering clinical research services including site management. Multiple IMA executives previously held senior roles at ICON, reflecting direct competition for both talent and sponsor contracts.
- Worldwide Clinical Trials: Worldwide Clinical Trials is a mid-to-large global CRO providing Phase I-IV clinical trial services. It is a broader incumbent comparable that competes with IMA for Phase II-IV and post-market study contracts from similar pharmaceutical sponsors.
Others
- Parexel: Parexel is a top global CRO that is both a named customer and partner of IMA Clinical Research, participating in joint webinars. As a CRO customer, it is an ecosystem participant that channels studies to IMA's network rather than a direct site-network competitor.
- Clinical Trials of America (CTA): CTA was a Louisiana-based clinical trial site network acquired by IMA Group in January 2023. Listed here as an OTHERS reference to illustrate prior comparable site networks IMA has absorbed in its consolidation strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IMA Clinical Research social profiles
Digital presenceIMA Clinical Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IMA Clinical Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
IMA Clinical Research subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
IMA Clinical Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IMA Clinical Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IMA Clinical Research
What does IMA Clinical Research do?
IMA Clinical Research operates a nationwide clinical trial site network providing Phase II-IV and post-market clinical study conduct for pharmaceutical sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). Services are delivered through site-based, hybrid, and fully decentralized trial models across 90+ full-service sites and 150+ satellite locations, leveraging a 400K+ patient database and a centralized Patient Outreach Center for enrollment and longitudinal engagement.
Is IMA Clinical Research a public or private company?
IMA Clinical Research is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was IMA Clinical Research founded?
IMA Clinical Research was founded in 1995. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is IMA Clinical Research based?
IMA Clinical Research is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does IMA Clinical Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: clinical Research Services.
Who are IMA Clinical Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Centricity Research, Evolution Research Group, Aventiv Research and Radiant Research. Flourish Research is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are IQVIA, ICON plc and Worldwide Clinical Trials. Others are Parexel and Clinical Trials of America (CTA).
Does IMA Clinical Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for IMA Clinical Research.
What industry is IMA Clinical Research in?
IMA Clinical Research's product category is Clinical Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGACAE, Clinical Trial Site Operations & Study Coordination, with a secondary code of HLAGACAH, Decentralized & Hybrid Trial Site Services (Home Health/Nursing). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.