Tani Williams owns Blink Research Center LLC., a clinical research facility focusing on eye treatments for minorities by providing innovative and optimal solutions through clinical trials in the field of ophthalmology. Blink Research is located in Memphis, Tennessee. Tani is a Registered Nurse with 23 years of experience in clinical research. In addition to Blink, Tani has done contract work as a Compliance Auditor for clinical research companies for the last fifteen years. She ensures study compliance with client guidelines and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
Tani started Blink in May 2022 and acquired her first study in August 2022. She contracts with pharmaceutical and device companies for clinical trials for various eye diseases. The research contracts pay a startup fee, and once the study sponsor approves all the initial contract requirements, most of the contract funds are received upon completion of the study.
Tani has a team of highly experienced ophthalmologists, optometrists, research coordinators, data coordinators, ophthalmic photographers, diagnostic technicians, study nurses, and vision examiners.
Tani and her team find research participants through a network of ophthalmologists and local outreach through social media, churches, and other community partners. She has a team of eight ophthalmologists who works with her contractually. She also has two employees that work for her, one full-time office staff member and a part-time photographer. Tani sees her work as a means to provide cutting-edge medical treatments to patients who cannot afford treatment.
The studies can range from a few months to two years. She now has seven studies under contract. Her goal was to reach and maintain 20 active studies. However, she needed working capital to maintain operations until her current contracts started receiving funding. At this point, Tani had used her savings and retirement to purchase the existing equipment and fund the business. She needed working capital and money for additional equipment.
In early 2023, Tani started working with the Communities Unlimited (CU) Lending Team on the loan process. In March 2023, Tani closed on her loan with CU.
