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WSU, Premier launch clinical research alliance

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By Ben Sutherly, Staff Writer Updated 11:13 PM Wednesday, February 1, 2012

FAIRBORN — Wright State University and Premier Health Partners on Wednesday announced an $8 million alliance to bolster the region’s clinical research capabilities, part of a broader effort to recruit top-notch physicians and retain patients who currently go elsewhere for care.

Premier Health Partners and Wright State University each plan to invest $4 million in the next five years to support the creation of the alliance, which is eventually expected to attract $5 million to $7 million in research funding annually, nearly triple the current amount of $1.8 million.

Officials said the collaboration should greatly increase the number of cutting-edge clinical trials that Premier and Wright State currently offer area residents.

The two institutions currently do about 39 clinical trials a year.

Clinical trials are a scientific way to study a new medicine or treatment’s effect on people, and are a means of developing better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, control or treat illness.

The National Institutes of Health and the drug, biotechnology and medical device industries spend nearly $100 billion each year nationwide on research and development, Wright State President David Hopkins said.

“The time has come for the Dayton region to get its piece of the pie,” he said. “The biosciences sector is one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Ohio.”

In 2012 and 2013, the focus will be on clinical trials originating with pharmaceutical and other private-sector companies, said Dr. Arthur S. Pickoff, who will direct the alliance.

In subsequent years, the alliance will invest in home-grown “translational” research, in which discoveries in the lab are taken directly to the patient, Pickoff said.

The new Clinical Trials Research Alliance will complement the existing Dayton Clinical Oncology Program. The alliance’s major areas of research are likely to include hypertension, diabetes, migraine headaches, obstetrics, gynecology and other specialties, Pickoff said.

The alliance will hire 14 staff members who will support physicians and other clinicians by shouldering the administrative paperwork and navigating the bureaucracy involved in securing grant money.

Those positions include budget analysts, research nurse coordinators and business development staff, said Stephanie Gottschlich, spokeswoman for the Wright State Research Institute.

Some of those 14 hires already work elsewhere at the university.

Wright State anticipates the initiative could eventually create a total of 50 jobs, including additional staff needed to support the work of future clinical recruits.

“The best medical schools in the country are strong in clinical care, teaching and research,” Pickoff told the Dayton Daily News following the alliance announcement at the Nutter Center’s Berry Room. “Our basic science research is extremely strong; our clinical, physician-led research is good. It needs to be outstanding.”

Premier Health Partners is eyeing the alliance as a means of attracting top medical professionals to the region.

“It offers us a better chance to recruit and retain certain subspecialty positions, which are in short supply,” said Mary Boosalis, Premier’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The clinical research alliance is the second collaboration announced in two years by Premier and the university, which also are collaborating to establish a neuroscience institute.

The two institutions recently announced that Dr. Kenneth J. Gaines will chair the Boonshoft School of Medicine’s new neurology department and work in a key role for the neuroscience institute. He will receive an annual salary of $300,000.

Premier also plays a role in the training of about 350 physicians whose residencies are overseen by Wright State, said Dr. Molly Hall, Premier vice president and chief academic officer. About 135 of those doctors are in the military.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDaily News.com.

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