Overview of the Acquisition
Headlands Research, a leading clinical trial site network, has acquired Clinical Trials Research (CTR) — a privately owned clinical research organization based in Sacramento and Lincoln, California. The announcement came on June 30, 2026, marking a significant step in Headlands’ strategy to deepen its California presence.
Following the acquisition, CTR’s two locations will rebrand as Headlands Research – Sacramento and Headlands Research – CTR Lincoln. Together, they add two fully operational research sites to Headlands’ growing North American and European network.
Why This Deal Matters for Clinical Research
Clinical trial site consolidation is accelerating across the U.S. Yet not all acquisitions bring equal value. This one does. CTR offers something rare: two well-established sites, a 25-year operational history, and an investigator team that pharmaceutical sponsors already know and trust.
Kyle Burtnett, Chief Executive Officer of Headlands Research, explained the rationale clearly. “By pairing that depth with Headlands’ infrastructure, we advance our objective of being the partner of choice for pharmaceutical companies and CROs by providing additional capabilities and scale to our cardiometabolic therapeutic area,” he said.
Furthermore, the acquisition accelerates Headlands’ ability to offer sponsors faster study startup, stronger patient recruitment, and reliable data quality — all at scale.
CTR’s 25-Year Track Record
Therapeutic Areas of Expertise
CTR brings deep clinical expertise across a range of cardiometabolic and metabolic indications. Specifically, the sites have run trials across the following conditions:
- High cholesterol and hypertension
- Heart failure prevention
- Obesity and overweight management
- Type 2 diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
- Fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH)
- Chronic idiopathic constipation
This breadth of indications strengthens Headlands’ existing cardiometabolic portfolio. Moreover, it positions the network to pursue more complex, multi-indication studies for both sponsors and CROs.
Key Clinical Trial Metrics
| Metric | CTR Performance |
|---|---|
| Years in Operation | 25+ years |
| Completed Clinical Trials | 300+ (Phase I–IV) |
| Trial Phases Covered | Phase I, II, III, IV |
| Site Locations Added | 2 (Sacramento + Lincoln, CA) |
| Specialty Focus | Cardiometabolic, Metabolic Disease |
These numbers reflect a site that performs. Rapid study startup and high-quality data retention are core strengths that sponsors value most — and CTR consistently delivers both.
Meet the Leadership: Dr. Jeffrey D. Wayne
Dr. Jeffrey D. Wayne, MD, leads CTR’s clinical operations. He has served as a principal investigator since 1992, building one of California’s most respected community-based research practices over more than three decades.
Dr. Wayne holds his medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. He also serves as clinical faculty at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. His research spans cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions, and both women’s and men’s health.
His perspective on the acquisition reflects a practitioner-first mindset. “Clinical research has been my career passion, and our team has built a trusted research practice,” Dr. Wayne noted. “Joining Headlands Research gives us the infrastructure and network to bring more patients into research, expand the therapeutic areas that we can offer our community, and maintain the quality our sponsors rely on.”
Notably, Dr. Wayne’s long tenure and board certification in internal medicine give CTR — and now Headlands — strong investigator credibility with regulatory bodies and sponsors alike.
Strategic Impact on Headlands Research
Strengthening the Cardiometabolic Portfolio
Headlands already conducts trials across CNS, vaccines, metabolic diseases, obesity, and respiratory disease. However, cardiometabolic disorders represent one of the highest-demand therapeutic areas for sponsor investment globally. As a result, adding CTR’s concentrated cardiometabolic expertise directly enhances Headlands’ competitive positioning.
Additionally, the Sacramento market offers access to a large and diverse patient population — a key driver for trial enrollment success in chronic disease studies.
Network Growth Across North America
This acquisition follows a broader pattern of strategic growth. Earlier in 2025, Headlands opened a Twin Cities clinical research site to extend its Upper Midwest reach. The company also entered the Caribbean with the acquisition of CMRCenter. California, therefore, represents another deliberate geographic move — not an opportunistic one.
Each site Headlands acquires strengthens the overall network’s ability to deliver enrollment scale, therapeutic depth, and operational consistency to pharmaceutical partners.
What This Means for Sponsors and CROs
For pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations, this acquisition delivers three immediate benefits:
Faster Study Startup — CTR’s teams have refined startup processes across 300+ trials. Sponsors gain access to a site that reduces the time between contract execution and first patient enrolled.
Stronger Enrollment Capabilities — The Sacramento and Lincoln sites serve a large, diverse Northern California patient base. This expands enrollment potential for cardiometabolic, metabolic, and chronic disease protocols.
Proven Investigator Relationships — Dr. Wayne’s three decades of principal investigator experience translate directly into sponsor confidence. Experienced investigators reduce protocol deviations and improve data integrity throughout a study.
Together, these advantages make the combined Headlands-CTR network a stronger partner for sponsors seeking speed, quality, and geographic reach.
About Headlands Research
Headlands Research is a leading clinical trial site organization with a mission to improve lives by advancing innovative medical therapies. The company operates a growing network of wholly owned clinical research sites across North America and Europe. Headlands provides sponsors and CROs with access to experienced investigators, diverse patient populations, and centralized operational support across therapeutic areas including CNS, vaccines, metabolic diseases, obesity, respiratory disease, cardiometabolic disorders, and more.
