Walmart is set to open four clinical research sites in spring 2026, including at its former healthcare centers.
The Walmart Healthcare Research Institute is launching the facilities in collaboration with clinical research company Care Access at three ex-Walmart Health locations and a rural Walmart store. The sites will offer health screenings and explore study opportunities with patients.
“Clinical research should feel practical and approachable, not distant or intimidating, especially for communities that have had difficulty participating in opportunities for innovative treatments,” Walmart Chief Medical Officer Emily Aaronson, MD, said in a Jan. 22 news release.
A Walmart spokesperson told Becker’s the company has yet to identify where the sites will be located.
In 2024, Walmart shuttered its 51 in-store healthcare clinics spanning six states, as well as its virtual care platform, citing a lack of profitability. The retail giant recently launched a new digital health service to connect patients to third-party urgent care, behavioral health and weight loss providers.
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