About Apex Clinical Research Center
Apex Clinical Research Center connects patients, physicians, and research sponsors to help develop dermatologic therapies through carefully conducted clinical trials across Northeast Ohio.
Apex Clinical Research Center At a Glance
Our Mission
What is Apex Clinical Research Center?
Apex Clinical Research Center (ACRC) is a dermatology-focused clinical research organization affiliated with Apex Skin, a network of 15 dermatology clinics serving patients across Northeast Ohio. Our team partners with pharmaceutical sponsors, physicians, and patients to evaluate dermatologic therapies through clinical trials conducted in real-world care settings.
By integrating clinical research into an established dermatology network, ACRC helps expand access to clinical trials for patients while supporting the development of treatments for skin disease. Studies are conducted across a wide range of dermatologic conditions and follow strict safety and ethical standards designed to protect participants while producing reliable research outcomes.
What sets ACRC apart is our ability to rapidly launch and execute studies within a large, real-world dermatology network, our dermatologist-led teams, and our commitment to making clinical research accessible and meaningful for both patients and sponsors.
Why Apex Clinical Research Center Was Created
Apex Clinical Research Center was founded in 2019 by Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Apex Skin.
After more than a decade of building a dermatology practice serving patients throughout Northeast Ohio, Dr. Garcia-Zuazaga recognized an important gap in access to dermatology research. Many patients were searching for better treatment options when existing therapies failed to provide relief, yet clinical trials for promising new treatments were often limited to large academic medical centers.
ACRC was created to bridge that gap by bringing clinical research directly into the dermatology care environment. By embedding clinical trials within a network of dermatology clinics, the organization allows patients to learn about research opportunities through the physicians they already trust while helping pharmaceutical sponsors conduct efficient and well-coordinated studies.
The first studies conducted at ACRC were registry studies for skin cancer, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis—laying the foundation for a broad research portfolio.
Since its founding, ACRC has expanded into a multi-site dermatology clinical research center supporting studies across multiple phases and disease areas. The Canton research site was added in 2024, followed by Lorain in 2025, further expanding access to clinical trials for patients across Northeast Ohio.
Featured Interview: Expanding Access to Dermatology Research
In this interview with Dermatology Times, Dr. Garcia-Zuazaga discusses the vision behind Apex Clinical Research Center and how integrating clinical trials into everyday dermatology practice can expand access to emerging treatments.
He also highlights the importance of improving diversity and representation in dermatology research and explains how centralized coordination across research sites can lead to stronger clinical data and more efficient study execution.
Leadership
Apex Clinical Research Center is led by a team of dermatology and clinical research professionals who oversee patient care and research operations across all sites.
The organization was founded by Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, MD, MBA, FAAD, FACMS, whose vision was to integrate clinical trials into everyday dermatology practice and expand access to innovative treatments for patients.
Research operations are led by:
Theresa Hanslik, BSN, RN, CDE, CCRC
VP of Research Operations
Brooke Glivar, LPN, CCRC
Research Network Director
Clinical trials at ACRC are further supported by experienced Investigators:
Marlise Fletter, CNP
Brian Moore, MD, FAAD
Megan Sevilla, PA-C
Our Role in the Community
At Apex Clinical Research Center, we believe clinical research is a service, not just a specialty. Our work is rooted in the communities we serve, and we are committed to improving health outcomes through access, education, and hands-on support, both inside and outside the clinic.
We are proud to have been recognized for our community impact, including being selected for the 2023 Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service, an honor that highlights organizations making meaningful contributions through volunteerism, charitable involvement, and service partnerships. For us, this recognition reflects a simple goal: ensuring patients have access to high-quality clinical trials and the opportunity to benefit from advancing care in dermatology and beyond.
Our commitment also extends to medical collaboration and education. Our providers and clinical research team actively connect with local healthcare partners, sharing insights on common and rare conditions and discussing real-world dermatology cases. We view these relationships as an important part of strengthening patient care across the region.
Inside our studies, we take a whole-person approach to supporting participants. Many clinical research physical exams include comprehensive skin checks, which can support early detection and reinforce the importance of proactive dermatologic care. We are proud of the thorough attention our team brings to every visit, helping participants feel informed, supported, and cared for throughout their study experience.
Giving back is part of our culture as well. Our team has dedicated time volunteering locally, including spending part of a day supporting a Northeast Ohio no-kill animal shelter, helping with the day-to-day work that keeps vital community organizations running.
We’re also proud when the excellence of our staff creates an impact beyond our local area. One example is Brianna Stewart, CRC II, who was selected as the only U.S. Clinical Research Coordinator to serve on a Global Study Coordinator Panel with LEO Pharma in Denmark after a competitive interview process. In that role, she collaborated with international clinical research leaders and coordinators from other countries to develop strategies to strengthen patient recruitment, streamline trial operations, and improve educational materials for patients and sites. It’s a reflection of what we aim for every day: bringing global-quality rigor and compassion to every patient interaction.
Whether we’re supporting clinical trial participants, partnering with local providers, volunteering in the community, or contributing to improvements in research on an international level, Apex Clinical Research Center remains committed to making a positive, lasting impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
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