Patients to Gain Access Cutting-Edge Treatments Thanks to Intermountain Health Research

Because Intermountain Health is both a health provider and a research hub, studies are taking place at hospitals and clinics across the Intermountain system in hospitals and clinics in multiple states, giving more patients the opportunity to participate in important clinical trials and access to new treatments.

“The goal of our research is to bring research directly into patient care, so discoveries translate faster into better outcomes for the communities we serve,” said Samuel Brown, MD, vice president of research and chief academic and research officer for Intermountain Health. “Our top priority is to provide patients with access to cutting-edge therapeutic clinical trials that will establish the future of clinical care.

In 2025, more than 1,600 patients participated in more than 260 research studies at Intermountain Health, with 131 new clinical trials launched during the year. That work led to more than 440 published studies in top medical journals.

Research at Intermountain Health focuses primarily on areas that directly impact patients, including key studies on heart disease, cancer, infectious diseases, transplantation, and early‑stage clinical trials testing next‑generation medical therapies.

By conducting research in real‑world care settings, Intermountain Health researchers are helping to move discoveries more quickly from the laboratory to the bedside – improving care for patients today and in the future.

“Because patient care and our research infrastructure are integrated, medical research at Intermountain is not limited to a single academic medical center,” said Dr. Bown. “Instead, studies can be conducted across our entire health system, allowing research to reflect real-world patient populations and care settings. This structure also supports collaborations and multi-center trials with other institutions, expanding the reach and impact of Intermountain-led research beyond our facilities.”

How Patients Benefit from Intermountain Health’s Clinical Trials and Medical Research

• Access to new treatment options

Clinical trials give patients access to innovative therapies that may not yet be widely available –especially important for those whose conditions don’t respond to standard treatments.

• More opportunities to participate, closer to home

Because research is conducted throughout the Intermountain Health system, patients don’t have to travel far or go to a single academic center to take part in cutting-edge clinical trials.

• Care for complex and serious conditions

Intermountain Health’s trials focus on areas with high patient need, including heart disease, transplants, cancer, and early‑phase (Phase I) studies for difficult‑to‑treat conditions.

• Earlier access to cutting‑edge therapies

Patients at Intermountain Health may be among the first to receive next‑generation treatments, including cellular therapies like CAR T‑cell therapy and advanced radioligand therapies, offered through specialized programs such as those at Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.

• Research integrated into real‑world care

Pragmatic clinical trials are designed to take place in everyday care settings, helping ensure that research findings translate more quickly into practical improvements in patient care.

• Improved outcomes through research‑driven care

Strong research integration has supported growth and innovation in areas like transplantation and structural heart disease, helping refine treatments and expand options for patients across the Intermountain system.

Why clinical trials and research matter for patients

Clinical trials and research programs provide patients at Intermountain Health with access to innovative therapies that may not yet be available as standard treatments.

“For patients whose conditions do not respond to current standards of care, research participation can offer additional options, including first-in-human therapies or novel uses of existing treatments,” said Dr. Brown. “At the same time, this work helps generate evidence that improves future care for broader patient populations.”