STARR Certified Sites

Mental health clinical research is a particularly challenging area within research and the sites that work within this area do so because they are driven to help those with mental health disorders, despite the added complexity. Many of these sites have chosen to become STARR Certified to be part of a network of stakeholders that are employing standardized best practices and are advancing mental health clinical research by:

  • cultivating community engagement;
  • promoting research as an option for all;
  • strengthening communication between research site staff and patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups;
  • sharing their expertise with the Certified site community.

The following sites are STARR Certified:


CenExel ACMR in Atlanta, GA conducts Phase I-IV trials in the therapeutic areas of psychiatry, neurology, pain, and more. The state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot facility is fully dedicated to clinical research and features 150 inpatient beds, EEG rooms, a sleep lab, a PBMC lab, three psychedelic therapy suites, and two surgical suites. CenExel ACMR’s Founder and Principal Investigator, Robert Riesenberg, MD, has served as a PI in over 600 studies. Our dedicated and experienced research teams conduct trials with compassion and respect for our research participants.*


CenExel CBH is a provider of comprehensive behavioral health services in the Baltimore-Washington DC metropolitan area. We are staffed with qualified mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses. We have conducted over 350 Phase I – IV clinical trials at our state-of-the-art research facility located in Gaithersburg, MD. We are a CenExel Center of Excellence, assuring unparalleled patient engagement, staff expertise, and valuable results.*


CenExel CIT, founded in 2000, comprises two research sites in Bellflower and Riverside, CA. Together, the sites encompass 33,000+ square feet of facility space and 70 inpatient beds. CenExel CIT has extensive experience with all major psychiatric indications as well as neurology, vaccine, and healthy volunteer trials. CenExel CIT consistently meets and exceeds enrollment goals and serves a racially and ethnically diverse population. CenExel CIT is a CenExel Center of Excellence, assuring unparalleled patient engagement, staff expertise, and valuable results.


CenExel CNR specializes in psychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease, and migraine trials and has served the Greater Los Angeles community since 2002. CenExel CNR conducts Phase II-IV studies in Sherman Oaks, CA. The site is led by Thomas Shiovitz, MD, a board-certified Psychiatrist with more than 30 years of clinical research experience. Dr. Shiovitz developed CTSdatabase, a clinical trial subject registry that detects duplicate and professional subjects who participate in other studies simultaneously. It has been used by many sponsors to improve the accuracy and quality of trials.*


CenExel CNS, founded in 2000 by David Walling, PhD, is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and improving the lives of patients through the execution of clinical trials. CenExel CNS conducts outpatient trials in Garden Grove, Torrance, and Los Alamitos, CA. Additionally, the Los Alamitos location offers a world-class, 80-bed, 25,000 square foot inpatient unit designed with patient comfort and safety in mind. CenExel CNS’s specialized capabilities include psychedelics research, driving simulation, ethnic bridging, and electrophysiological and neuroimaging assessments.*


CenExel HRI, founded in 2015 by investigators with decades of research experience, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients in need of innovative treatments. CenExel HRI conducts Phase I-IV trials at its locations in Marlton and Berlin, NJ. The Marlton location features a 60-bed inpatient unit with dedicated areas for psychiatric patient populations and healthy volunteers. CenExel HRI has extensive experience with psychiatry and substance use disorder trials, among other therapeutic areas, and excels at human abuse potential (HAP), driving simulation, and psychedelics studies. *


CenExel iResearch has sites in Decatur and Savannah, GA, and conducts Phase I-IV trials in the areas of psychiatry, neurology, infectious disease, and more. The state-of-the-art inpatient unit in Decatur offers a beautiful, comfortable environment for our study participants and caregivers. It features 40 beds, a sleep lab, and world-class psychedelic therapy suites. CenExel iResearch conducts trials in all age groups. We are dedicated to making a difference in our local and global community through the study of new medications for mental health and medical illnesses. *


CenExel RCA is a wholly-owned, multi-specialty research site that conducts Phase I – IV clinical trials. CenExel RCA inpatient and outpatient studies are made up of healthy and special populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric age groups. Our mission is to be the best-in-class clinical research site contributing to the development of new medications by conducting trials at the highest ethical standards. We are a CenExel Center of Excellence, assuring unparalleled patient engagement, staff expertise, and valuable results.*


Since 1996, CNS Healthcare has been a dependable research partner for sponsors and CRO’s. With three independent research centers located in Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, and Memphis, TN, the CNS Healthcare staff is dedicated to the highest integrity, quality and ethical standards, without exception. The CNS Healthcare Jacksonville site offers a 10,000 square foot state-of-the-art research site with 6 in-house primary investigators. Due to its geographic location, this site recruits subjects from both North Florida and South Georgia. *


The CNS Healthcare Memphis site serves over 2 million people in the Greater Memphis, Tennessee area, Arkansas and Mississippi for Phase 1-4 pediatric to geriatric clinical trials. All of the CNS Healthcare site are supported by a centralized Support team, which works hand-in-hand with each site’s clinical teams to enhance operations, quality assurance, regulatory, marketing, business development, accounting and information technology at each research site.  *


The CNS Healthcare Orlando site is our Flagship site and opened it’s doors in early 1996 with over 10,000 square feet devoted to research, serving over 3 million people in the Central Florida area.  With state-of-the-art facilities and 6 in-house primary investigators, the Orlando clinical research site offers expertise in a wide range of therapeutic areas. Like our other 3 sites, this team brings together highly experienced and specialized professionals who have decades of experience in their respective fields. *


Finger Lakes Clinical Research (FLCR) is a clinical research facility in Rochester, NY, that conducts clinical studies specializing in central nervous system (CNS) trials. These clinical trials encompass a broad range of illnesses including anxiety disorders, ADHD, major depression, bipolar (manic/depressive) illness and schizophrenia. FLCR is part of the Evolution Research Group. *


Midwest Clinical Research Center has been dedicated to working with sponsors and volunteer subjects to test and develop new medication therapies for psychiatric conditions since 2002. The clinical trials we conduct at our outpatient and inpatient sites provide data for the effectiveness and safety of new medications for the treatment of Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, and more. *


Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research is a cutting-edge research facility run by Shishuka Malhotra MD, who has conducted over 200 clinical research trials. Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research is located in North Canton, Ohio, and offers both in-patient and out-patient facilities. *


North Texas Clinical Trials (NTXCT) is an independent clinical trials site located in the vibrant Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, dedicated to providing quality data and trusted care. NTXCT effectively combines strategic volunteer recruitment and retention with exceptional, high-quality clinical trial conduct and is comprised of experienced and dedicated staff, collectively having decades of experience in phase I-IV trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Post-Partum Depression. *


Pillar Clinical Research is a multi-specialty research organization established in 2006 and has been serving the greater Dallas, Chicago, and Bentonville areas, providing best in class clinical research services. We have highly trained and skilled clinical research staff committed to providing each participant with an exceptional level of care and attention. Pillar Clinical Research, LLC, was formed to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the community. *


Based in the greater Dallas area, the Pillar Richardson office is the flagship site for Pillar and has Phase 1-4 capabilities with a dedicated outpatient and a 20 bed inpatient research unit. The site also collaborates with Medical City Green Oaks Hospital for studies that require traditional psychiatric inpatient unit settings. *


Pillar Clinical Research’s Chicago office is based on the north side of Chicago. Pillar Chicago has outpatient, a 24 bed inpatient research unit, access to a traditional inpatient psychiatric unit, to allow for its Phase 1-4 capabilities. The site is strategically located to serve the city & suburban areas of Chicago. *


Located in northwest Arkansas, Pillar’s Bentonville facility is located in one of the fastest growing areas in the country. The modern facility includes a 24 bed unit with experienced clinical research staff, capable of conducting both inpatient and outpatient Phase 1-4 clinical trials. We are proud of our track record and will continue to strive for excellence through maintaining the highest standards in ethics, clinical care, cutting edge research, and organizational commitment. *


Richmond Behavioral Associates is geared to treat patients with the latest advances in clinical psychopharmacology.  Dr. DiBuono’s and Dr Shalenberg’s expertise in psychiatric medications coupled with our experience in conducting clinical trials in Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, and Anxiety have enabled our patients to obtain the latest medications for these disorders. Richmond Behavioral Associates also prides itself as a treatment service first, and as such seeks to provide quality care with excellent patient follow up. Richmond Behavioral is part of the Evolution Research Group. *


Segal Trials, founded in 1998, is a privately held network of six research sites throughout South Florida, conducting Phase I-IV research trials with a primary emphasis on psychiatry, neurology, addiction, women’s health, vaccines, senior living, healthy volunteers and psychedelics. Staying true to its core values of quality, customer service, advocacy and patient care, the Segal Trials team remains agile and competitive, expanding and growing based on the needs of its sponsors and patients.  *


Segal Trials’ extensive HIPAA-compliant patient database has over 20,000 patients and is allied with Compass Health Systems, which helps them meet and exceed enrollment goals. Segal staff are among the leaders in their field and Segal Trials is regarded as an innovator and a leader in the advancement of medicine with a strong dedication to the community it serves by spreading awareness about clinical trials as a potential care option. *


Sharlin Health Neuroscience Research Center is a state-of-the-art clinical research facility located in Ozark, Missouri. Led by Ken Sharlin, M.D., M.P.H., IFMCP, a board-certified neurologist, Sharlin Health offers a complete solution to neurological clinical trials, with a full-service facility, experienced research staff, and a well-established patient database for excellent enrollment. *


Synergy San Diego is a medical research facility located in Lemon Grove, California, where we have been conducting clinical research studies for over 18 years. Our team is dedicated to finding solutions to diseases and disorders that afflict millions of people around the world, including depression, diabetes, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. *


Woodland International Research Group is a leading clinical research site, having successfully completed over 200 studies and being recognized as a top enroller in many of those.  Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Woodland International offers a 12,000 square foot research facility, as well as an additional 7,000 square foot unit for special populations, both facilities were designed for the comfort and safety of the subjects who participate in clinical trials.  Woodland International is part of Evolution Research Group. *


Woodland Research Northwest is an inpatient and outpatient research clinic, founded in 2008, as the second location in Arkansas for Woodland International Research Group. The Woodland Research Northwest clinic in Rogers conducts a mix of Early Phase (I/Ib) and Late Phase (II/III) trials. Woodland Research Northwest is part of the Evolution Research Group.    *

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