New Medical Center Expansion Focuses on Pioneering Medical Advancements
New Research Building at University of Rochester Medical Center to Boost Clinical Translational Medicine and Local Economy
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has opened a new research building dedicated to reducing the time it takes to turn new ideas into better patient care. The Saunders Research Building will serve as the hub of clinical and translational medicine for both the Medical Center and a network of researchers across the state.
The facility was named in honor of local businessman E. Philip Saunders, who has supported research at the medical center for decades. Mr. Saunders has agreed to lend his name to the building and has requested that it honor those who have served in the country's armed forces.
The Saunders Research Building will house independent research programs in cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, cancer, pediatrics, emergency medicine, the Departments of Community & Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics & Computational Biology, and the Office for Human Subject Protection.
The central objective of clinical and translational medicine at URMC is to improve health by taking scientific breakthroughs and applying them to real-world health problems more rapidly and methodically. The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) will reside in the Saunders Research Building, providing researchers with the comprehensive set of services, expertise, and resources necessary to carry out all phases of translational research.
Mark Taubman, M.D., the dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at URMC, emphasized the importance of the Saunders Research Building for the future of medicine. "The future of medicine will be driven by institutions that assemble teams and create environments necessary to follow through on discoveries and make them relevant in terms of improving health," he said.
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., the CEO of URMC, highlighted the building's role in local economic growth. A 2007 report by the Center for Governmental Research predicts that the NIH grant, the building, and related research will create 600 permanent jobs at both the Medical Center and in the community, and have a total annual economic impact of $30 million per year.
Joel Seligman, the president of the University of Rochester, expressed his excitement for the new facility. "The Saunders Research Building positions the University of Rochester Medical Center at the forefront of a national movement to break down barriers between the lab and the lives of people," he said.
The Saunders Research Building's open configuration and shared common areas are intended to foster interaction between its occupants and provide a gathering space for the community. The facility was designed with a focus on sustainability and scientific collaboration, aiming to be a model for energy conservation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
The University of Rochester Medical Center has been a pioneer in the field of translational medicine, contributing to the development of pediatric, influenza & cancer vaccines, vision correcting surgery, implantable cardiac defibrillators, drug safety initiatives, medical imaging technologies, and new treatments for numerous neurological disorders. The Saunders Research Building will strengthen academic and industry partnerships by helping advance new medical technologies to the point where they can be more readily transferred to the private sector.
Thomas Pearson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., the director of the CTSI at URMC, expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility. "The Saunders Research Building will be a remarkable asset for the University of Rochester Medical Center and our community, enabling us to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into improved patient care," he said.
In conclusion, the Saunders Research Building at URMC plays a significant role in translational medicine, serving as a key facility for conducting clinical investigation and research aimed at translating scientific discoveries into improved patient care. It supports a concerted effort in translational medicine to improve patient outcomes via interdisciplinary research and education. Additionally, the facility likely contributes to Rochester’s local economic growth by being part of a prominent academic medical center that attracts resources, talent, and innovation.
- The Saunders Research Building, dedicated to reducing the time it takes to turn new ideas into better patient care, will house independent research programs in various health-related fields, including nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, therapies-and-treatments, and medical-conditions like cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and cancer.
- In line with the central objective of clinical and translational medicine at URMC, the facility will provide researchers with the necessary resources to carry out all phases of translational research, aiming to improve health and wellness by applying scientific breakthroughs to real-world health problems more rapidly and methodically.
- As part of the University of Rochester Medical Center's commitment to advancing new medical technologies, the Saunders Research Building will strengthen academic and industry partnerships, potentially leading to the development of breakthroughs in health-related fields such as nutrition (with potential applications of CBD) and fitness-and-exercise, contributing to the local economy and overall economic impact of $30 million per year.
