HCA Healthcare Research Institute

The HCA Healthcare Research Institute is charting a bold new course—shaping the future of clinical research.

We're expanding access to innovative therapies, accelerating discovery and transforming patient care across the nation -- powered by passion, expertise and an unwavering commitment to advancing health.

Today's research paves the way for tomorrow's breakthroughs. By leveraging real-world data and transforming groundbreaking ideas into life-changing care, we are working through every discovery to create a healthy, more hopeful future for our patients and communities.

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Who we are

HCA Healthcare Research Institute is the multispecialty clinical research arm of HCA Healthcare committed to advancing care for every individual through our affiliated network of clinicians and sites.

How we do it

The Research Institute is a connector. We bring together trusted pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners with community-based clinicians to impact more people in more places.

What we offer

We offer a single point of contact to streamline trials and the site activation process, accelerated start-up timelines to make feasibility, contract and budget negotiations more efficient, access to diverse and quality sites with proven performance, and experienced principal investigators across a network of multiple therapeutic areas.

50

Sites in the network and growing

486

Total active studies

200

National experienced principal investigators

9

Specialties

*Data as of July 23, 2025

Improving lives in more ways

“Research is vitally important to healthcare and American medicine; therefore, it is important to HCA Healthcare.”
Dr. Michael Cuffe
Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer

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Our network

HCA Healthcare Research Institute’s site network connects sponsors and contract research organizations with national scientific key opinion leaders and community-based hospitals across the country. We perform research in a variety of therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiology, neuroscience, pulmonary and thoracic, and inpatient surgical/device trials, collaborating across physician groups to help improve patient access and maximize start-up efficiency.

Our patients

When you participate in a clinical research trial, you contribute to unlocking breakthroughs in science and the future of healthcare. Many medications and treatments would not exist without research participants. People of all ages and backgrounds can participate in clinical trials. Talk to your doctor to learn more about participating in a clinical trial and contributing to the future of medicine.

Our partners

HCA Healthcare is a leader in research. Our approximately 44 million annual patient encounters provide a wealth of data that is utilized for records-based initiatives.

The Research Institute serves as a valuable partner and liaison between research study sponsors and our network of sites in communities across the country.

The Research Institute offers:

A single point of contact to streamline trials and site activation
Multi-specialty centralized support services
Access to diverse, quality sites with proven performance
Experienced principal investigator support across a network of therapeutic areas

Our physicians

As part of a learning health system, we are unlocking insights into real-world data and clinical studies that lead to scientific breakthroughs and transform patient care.

Join a growing network of more than 200 principal investigators participating in local and national research initiatives, advancing care for our patients.

“We believe in doing what is right for our patients and colleagues and take great pride in being a positive influence in the many communities we serve.”

Sam Hazen

Chief Executive Officer

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"Clinical research is the cornerstone of modern healthcare fueling innovation, advancing treatments, and transforming lives. At HCA Healthcare’s Research Institute, we are pioneering new treatments to enhance existing therapeutic approaches, the significance of clinical research cannot be overstated. It is fundamental to our mission at HCA where above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life."

Dr. Greg Fontana

National Director Cardiothoracic Surgery

Advancing patient care to improve more lives

The HCA Healthcare Research Institute helps shape the future of patient care industrywide, bringing breakthroughs in science and medicine to our patients in their community.

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Innovative care close to home

With 50 sites across eleven states, the Research Institute’s capacity and capabilities continue to strengthen across the enterprise. Our programs support nine specialties – Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary and Thoracic, Women and Children’s, Neuroscience, Musculoskeletal, Robotics and Behavioral Health.

Capital

CJW Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Neuroscience

Henrico Doctor’s Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology

Continental

HCA HealthONE Aurora

Cardiac and Vascular

HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s

Musculoskeletal

HCA HealthONE Rose

Musculoskeletal

HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge

Musculoskeletal

HCA HealthONE Swedish

Neuroscience, Musculoskeletal

East Florida

HCA Florida JFK Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Neuroscience, Oncology, Musculoskeletal

HCA Florida Mercy Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology, Robotics

Far West

Los Robles Regional Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular

MountainView Hospital

Robotics

Riverside Community Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Pulmonary and Thoracic, Neuroscience

Gulf Coast

Corpus Christi Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular

HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake

Cardiac and Vascular

HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular

HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood

Neuroscience

Rio Grande Regional Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular

The Woman’s Hospital of Texas

Women and Children's

MidAmerica

Centerpoint Medical Center

Oncology

Menorah Medical Center

Oncology

Research Medical Center

Oncology

Mountain

St. Mark’s Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular

North Carolina

Mission Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology, Pulmonary and Thoracic, Neuroscience

North Florida

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Neuroscience

North Texas

Medical City Arlington

Neuroscience

Medical City Dallas

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary and Thoracic, Women and Children's, Musculoskeletal

Medical City Fort Worth

Cardiac and Vascular, Neuroscience

Medical City Green Oaks Hospital

Behavioral Health

Medical City Heart Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease, Musculoskeletal

Medical City Plano

Cardiac and Vascular, Neuroscience, Musculoskeletal, Infectious Disease

San Antonio

Methodist Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary and Thoracic

Methodist Hospital Metropolitan

Cardiac and Vascular

Methodist Hospital Stone Oak

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease

Methodist Hospital Texsan

Cardiac and Vascular

South Atlantic

Grand Strand Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular

Trident Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology

HCA Florida Memorial Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Pulmonary and Thoracic

TriStar

TriStar Centennial Medical Center

Cardiac and Vascular, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary and Thoracic, Neuroscience

TriStar Skyline Medical Center

Neuroscience

West Florida

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease, Women and Children’s, Neuroscience

HCA Florida West Tampa

Oncology

HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular

HCA Florida Largo Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary and Thoracic

HCA Florida Northside Hospital

Cardiac and Vascular, Infectious Disease

HCA Florida Trinity Hospital

Infectious Disease, Musculoskeletal, Robotics