Phoenix Children’s, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pediatric healthcare systems, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, announced the creation of The Phoenix Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, a collaboration that will allow clinicians to accelerate research efforts.
“This institute formalizes a longstanding research collaboration between Phoenix Children’s and the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix,” said Robert L. Meyer, President and CEO of Phoenix Children’s. “Top priorities for the institute include recruiting additional investigators, bolstering an environment of scientific discovery, and ultimately increasing bench-to-bedside treatments for our patients.”
Vlad Kalinichenko, MD, PhD will serve as director for the Phoenix Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, and professor of Child Health with tenure. Internationally renowned for his research in lung development and regeneration, Dr. Kalinichenko is principal investigator on three R01 NIH-funded research grants and co-investigator on another three R01 grants totaling more than $13.5 million in lifetime funding. He will work alongside pediatric cancer research luminary Stewart Goldman, MD, senior vice president of research for Phoenix Children’s and chair of the Department of Child Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
“We’re committed to finding as many new cures and improved treatments as possible for children with devastating childhood illnesses,” said Dr. Goldman. “In the near term, we’re focusing on workforce expansion and training the next generation of researchers who will have a profound impact on pediatric patients in Arizona and beyond.”
“We created The Phoenix Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix to become a premier center for scientific discovery and the development of new therapeutics for previously untreatable diseases in children. After an extensive national search, we were fortunate to recruit Dr. Kalinichenko, a world-class physician-scientist, to amplify his scientific discoveries as he builds a pre-eminent research institute,” said Guy Reed, MD, MS, dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. “We are grateful for the close partnership we have with Phoenix Children’s that has enabled us to launch this institute.”
The formation of the institute comes on the heels of Phoenix Children’s joining a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate the widespread implementation of new research results within the U.S. healthcare community. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) Health Systems Implementation Initiative offers participating systems up to $500,000 in initial funding to plan implementation strategies. A second funding opportunity, up to $5 million per project, will support practical and innovative ways participating health systems can promote uptake of evidence from PCORI-funded research studies.