| Events Coming Soon! | IHIF Clinical Trials Initiative
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About The Clinical Trials Initiative
In 2007-2008, the Indiana Health Industry Forum convened a task force of volunteers to discuss the opportunities in Indiana around clinical trials research. The task force presented its recommendations to the IHIF Board of Directors in early 2009. The following information reflects the fact finding and in-depth discussions of the group and shares details of the on-going work around each of the recommendation points. If you would like to become involved in the group or provide additional suggestions or feedback, please do so through the options provided below.
The Indiana Health Industry Forum and its clinical trials task force recognizes the economic value of clinical trials as an important business driver, due to:
- the concentration of pharma, medical device and academic components of Indiana’s economic base; and
- national clinical trials financial opportunities
TASK FORCE PURPOSE: To position Indiana as a premier state for the creation and growth of clinical trials
About the Task Force Recommendations:
- Product of robust and intensive discussion and debate
- Reflect areas of significant agreement and refinement
- About doing more with less, but also long-term and durable
- Designed to fill existing gaps - - not compete with ongoing business enterprises
Recommendations/Projects
The Indiana Health Industry Forum is hosting on-going discussions around each of the following recommendations, if you have a particular interest in one of the following topic areas or would like to suggest a new topic for exploration, please sign up to be included in the appropriate discussion. Click here to 
Please select the recommendation discussions of interest to you.
Recommendation 1
- Create Indiana Clinical Trial Alliance (ICTA)
Core Mission: create network of companies and individuals involved in clinical trials in Indiana
Status: To date, IHIF and Baker & Daniels LLP have hosted three networking events for members of the clinical trials task force and VIP guests. Barnes & Thornburg and Pearl IRB have hosted additional informational programming. Programs are unrestricted on venue, host, and topics discussed.
Recommendation 2
- ICTA will develop a website to be used as tool for recruiting patients and researchers
Status: The Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute has launched a website focused on connecting medical researchers with volunteers. Click here for more information
Recommendation 3
- ICTA will develop a clinical research assistance program to serve as a “Virtual Incubator and Accelerator” for clinical trial sites
Status: IHIF would like to identify additional volunteers to serve on a task force to further develop this recommendation
Recommendation 4
- ICTA will develop a program to identify industry research needs (CRO, Device, Pharma) and expectations that could be met by Indiana researchers
Status: The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute has received NIH ARRA award 3UL1RR025761-02S3 to support the development of i2iConnect. i2iConnect is a searchable database of industry contacts who are looking for innovating ideas and products. It is aimed at researchers and innovators in academia and elsewhere to enable them to quickly find potential industry partners who are interested in their work. See www.i2iconnect.org. This working group may want to explore opportunities to support, expand, or supplement this resource.
Recommendation 5
- Develop ICTA Committee devoted to IRBs across state; address statewide IRB challenges (speed, process, expertise)
· propose minimum standards
· harmonize forms, policies, and procedures
· share expertise – loan IRB members
· promote shared learning opportunities
· include commercial IRBs
Status: This working group may want to explore opportunities to support, expand, or supplement this recommendation. Indiana has recently welcomed the announcement of Pearl IRB, one of the first commercial IRBs in the Midwest.
Other Announcements
Purdue and Indiana universities will share a National Institutes of Health grant to launch a cancer advocacy network and for research on applying systems-engineering principles to cancer prevention and treatment. The $500,000 grant was awarded to Purdue and IU through their joint Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute project. As part of the project, Purdue and IU staff will identify and train recruiters to get more patients enrolled in clinical trials of new cancer treatments.
Resources
