Growing clinical research – UNMC a prime site for top clinical research group

UNMC recently was designated a prime site by Quintiles — the largest clinical research organization in the world — a development that stands to significantly increase the number of clinical trials conducted at the medical center.

Chris Kratochvil, M.D.

Prime sites are large clinical institutions that collaborate with Quintiles to enhance their infrastructure for conducting clinical trials, improve efficiencies and increase productivity. UNMC is one of just four Quintiles prime sites in the U.S.

Below, Chris Kratochvil, M.D., assistant vice chancellor for clinical research, discusses what the new arrangement with Quintiles and how it affects UNMC and its clinical partners.

Why was UNMC selected as a Quintiles Prime site?

UNMC was selected because of its experience in conducting clinical research, its access to substantial patient populations and its clinical expertise across multiple therapeutic areas.

Will the agreement increase the number of clinical trials offered at UNMC?

Yes. We hope to eventually add between 30 to 50 new clinical trials
per year at UNMC. These trials will involve a wide spectrum of patients, ranging from oncology and
endocrinology to psychiatry and pediatrics.

Why does it benefit the medical center to have more clinical trials?

We see the partnership with Quintiles as being an important one for the medical center. It will allow us to expand and further develop our clinical research program and provide greater access for our faculty to serve as investigators and patients to participate in clinical trials.

Tomorrow’s story – A patient benefits Read UNMC Today on Wednesday to learn about a patient with Parkinson’s disease who has better quality of life today thanks to her participation in a clinical trial at UNMC.

What are some of the benefits patients receive from increased access to clinical trials?

Patients who participate in clinical trials may receive access to research treatments before they are widely available, and in many cases the study treatment is provided at reduced or no cost. This collaboration will allow for increased access to clinical trials, and increased access to new research treatments. Additionally, participation allows patients to help others by contributing to medical research.

What effect will increased clinical research have on UNMC’s research funding situation?

UNMC’s research has been growing exponentially in recent years. For 2009-2010, UNMC brought in more than $115 million, a nearly 15 percent increase over the previous year’s total of $100 million. The Quintiles collaboration, one of several initiatives underway to expand clinical research at UNMC, will help to continue our growth in clinical trials funding.