Jara McDonald, MD, FAAFP, DABOM, CPI
Jara McDonald, MD, FAAFP, DABOM, CPI, is Tekton’s Executive Medical Director, Cardiometabolic Research Lead, and a Principal Investigator with experience conducting 30+ clinical trials.
Obesity Clinical Research Sites
Obesity trial sites led by practicing physicians
GLP-1 therapy is now affordable, available as a pill, and widely prescribed. More than ever, obesity trials now depend on accurate treatment histories. Which drug, what dose, when did the course stop, and why?
Tekton’s investigators practice obesity medicine, endocrinology, and family medicine, and they check treatment history against your criteria using prescribing records, often from their own practices.
Obesity Experience
12
sites supporting obesity studies
14
investigators supporting obesity studies
340,000+
potential participants in Tekton's database
Meet Our Obesity Investigators
Tekton’s obesity investigators prescribe anti-obesity medications and manage the comorbidities protocols require or exclude, following patients through years of starts, stops, and dose changes. Before Tekton recommends a site or accepts an enrollment target, we assess everything from washout windows to background-therapy requirements against people in the practice.
Pablo Mora, MD, FACE, MSc, CDCES
Dr. Mora is an expert endocrinologist with 15+ years of experience conducting research, 30+ publications, and National Lead Investigator experience. He is a global pharmaceutical advisory board panelist, speaker, and consultant specializing in diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic diseases.
Ben Phillips, MD
Ben Phillips, MD is a board-certified endocrinologist and Principal Investigator with 25+ years in metabolic care, founder leadership at Virginia Endocrinology, and clinical interests in diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, and high-risk osteoporosis.
Lacy Anderson, MD
Lacy Anderson, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and Principal Investigator with 20+ years in family medicine, experience conducting 10+ clinical trials, and a strong community education platform through News 9’s Daily Dose segment.
Kyle Rickner, MD
Kyle Rickner, MD, is a board-certified family physician, Principal Investigator, and Primary Health Partners co-founder with 20+ years in clinical research and experience across 70+ clinical trials.
Brandon Alleman, MD, PhD
Brandon Alleman, MD, PhD, is a board-certified family physician, Principal Investigator, and Antioch Med co-founder with 10+ years in practice, experience conducting 10+ clinical trials, and a PhD in translational biomedicine and a certificate in biostatistics.
Jeffrey Chasteen, DO
Jeffrey Chasteen, DO, is a board-certified family physician and Principal Investigator with 20+ years in practice, experience conducting 10+ clinical trials, and broad experience across family medicine, urgent care, hospice, and palliative care.
Ashok Devatha, MD
Ashok Devatha, MD, is a board-certified family physician and Principal Investigator with 30+ years in clinical practice and 5+ years in clinical research, and a community-based practice serving the Dayton metro area.
Obesity and Related Trial Experience
Therapeutic Expertise
Primary Indications
- Chronic weight management in adults with obesity
- Overweight with weight-related comorbidities
- Sarcopenic obesity
- Pediatric and adolescent obesity
Comorbid and Overlapping Conditions
- Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes
- Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- MASH/MASLD
- Dyslipidemia
Specialized Assessments and Support
- Registered dietitians and diabetes educators
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and sensor experience
- Automated insulin delivery experience for obesity-with-diabetes protocols
- Contracted body composition by DXA
How We Assess Site Fit
Before committing to an enrollment target, Tekton reviews the eligible population, background therapy, site capacity, and local demand.
- Eligible population. We compare the protocol’s BMI range and comorbidity requirements with practice records. We review prescribing records for drug, dose, duration, last dose, and reason for stopping, and check them against the protocol’s washout windows.
- Background therapy. For add-on and maintenance designs, we identify participants on a stable, documented dose of the therapy the protocol requires.
- Site capacity. We review the schedule of assessments against staffing, equipment, and room availability. We consider titration visits, specialized assessments, longer follow-up, and each site’s current obesity study load.
- Local demand. We review who each site can reach through its practice and referral network, which obesity studies are recruiting nearby, and how access to approved therapies affects recruitment and retention.
Delivering Your Obesity Trial
Central operations coordinate regulatory, budgets, contracts, activation, and recruitment activities across sites.
Studies with three or more Tekton sites are assigned a Study Delivery Lead to oversee performance and serve as your single point of contact.
Protocols with specialized cardiometabolic and/or endocrine requirements can be supported by Tekton’s Cardiometabolic and Endocrinology Teams.
Recent Study Performance
300% of Combined Enrollment Goal Achieved in a Phase 2 Obesity Trial
- 300% of combined initial enrollment goal achieved
- San Antonio: 42 participants randomized against an initial goal of 10
- Edmond: 18 participants randomized against an initial goal of 10
Rapid Startup and Early Enrollment Completion for a GLP-1 Study
- Enrollment goal achieved 3 months early
- 1-day regulatory turnaround
- First participant visit <24 hours after activation