The IMA Group Acquires New York’s Medical Research Network
IMA Clinical Research continues to grow; acquisition adds CNS research site in NYC and expands access to promising clinical trials to patients in high-need therapeutic areas
Tarrytown, New York – July 21, 2025 – The IMA Group (IMA) today announced the acquisition of Medical Research Network (MRN) LLC, a U.S.-based clinical research site located in New York City, specializing in psychiatry and neurology trials focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1997, MRN will continue operating under its current name and leadership, with core investigators and staff remaining in place, led by Founder, CEO, and Principal Investigator Michael R. Liebowitz, MD.
Dr. Liebowitz is Board Certified in Psychiatry and has devoted more than 30 years to the research and treatment of anxiety, phobic, and affective disorders. He previously chaired the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Workgroup on Anxiety Disorders. His contributions to the psychiatric and research fields span social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, atypical depression, and rapid cycling mood disorders.
“The need for high-quality clinical research in mental health continues to grow, particularly as we confront rising demand for care and long-standing gaps in access,” said Dr. Liebowitz. “By combining our deep CNS expertise and well-established clinical operations with IMA’s growing national platform, we’re positioned to reach more diverse and underserved patient populations, accelerate access to promising treatments, and deliver outstanding value to sponsors.”
Mark Weinberger, PhD, MPH, President and CEO of The IMA Group, emphasized how the acquisition enhances IMA’s operational capacity to meet sponsor needs. “By integrating MRN’s experienced team and established site into our network, we’re strengthening our ability to deliver efficient, high-performing trials in the CNS space,” he said. “This addition helps us reduce time to first patient, ensure quality data capture, and provide the scale and consistency that today’s sponsors require to execute successful studies.”
The acquisition adds IMA’s second research site in New York City and its first East Coast location dedicated to CNS trials. It builds on IMA’s existing CNS-focused presence in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque—expanding the company’s national footprint in this key therapeutic area. The move also aligns with the company’s broader strategy to grow both organically and through acquisitions—positioning IMA as one of the nation’s leading independent providers of outsourced healthcare evaluation and clinical research services.
About The IMA Group:
For over 30 years, The IMA Group, headquartered in New York, has been focused on enhancing the livelihood and productivity of individuals and organizations through a comprehensive range of Medical and Behavioral Health Services and Clinical Research at more than 150 sites and our large, affiliated provider network. The IMA Group serves the nation’s top government and payer organizations through a range of Occupational Health, Workers’ Compensation, Auto Insurance, and Employer Solutions. The company’s Evaluation Services spans disability and independent medical exams (IME), case management services, fitness for duty/pre-employment evaluations, medical/psychological/ ancillary exams, and a variety of occupational health services. IMA Clinical Research offers site-based, hybrid, and fully decentralized clinical trials that support the development of novel medicines, vaccines, and devices. Additionally, The IMA Group is unique in the marketplace in that it can bring together expertise in Evaluation Services and Clinical Research. For more information, visit www.theimagroup.com or www.imaresearch.com.
For more information, contact:
Brenna Harrington
706-217-7809
[email protected]