FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (March 15, 2013) - The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida
(VGTI Florida™) signed Affiliation Agreements today with two of
the region’s leading healthcare systems, Martin Health System and
Jupiter Medical Center, to move forward with the beginnings of a new clinical
trial consortium in South Florida.
In signing the Affiliation Agreements with both hospitals, VGTI Florida
has honored part of their commitment to the Florida Innovation Incentive
Fund, which assisted in funding of their new state-of-the-art facility.
“The three of us taking the first steps in this clinical trial consortium
is a great example of medical and research institutions working together
to give back to our community in the form of better and more personalized
health care,” says Mel Rothberg, Chief Operating Officer at VGTI
Florida. “Moving forward we hope to expand our clinical trial activities
and see this consortium grow to include other Florida regional hospitals.”
The establishment of the clinical trial consortium was celebrated at VGTI
Florida’s facility at the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port
St. Lucie with an Agreement signing ceremony. Community leaders and representatives
from all three organizations gathered to view the signing of the Agreements
and enjoyed a luncheon following the ceremony.
This clinical trial consortium brings us closer to achieving our translational
research goals and in doing so we pursue the opportunities to engage our
regional colleagues and the community in our collective research efforts,”
says Dr. Rafick Pierre-Sékaly, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Director
at VGTI Florida.
“Jupiter Medical Center is proud to be a part of this collaboration.
This clinical trial consortium is a great illustration of how biosciences
were intended to act as a galvanizing force in Florida, spreading a knowledge-based
economy throughout our region,” said John D. Couris, President and
CEO of Jupiter Medical Center. “By creating this inclusive partnership,
everybody wins – the scientists, the hospitals, and most importantly,
the communities in which we serve.”
Participation in this consortium is a strong movement forward into furthering
South Florida’s positive reputation in the research and medical
fields. VGTI Florida has hired a Medical Director to work with the Business
Development group in attracting interest in sponsors and to oversee operations
within the clinical trial consortium.
“Having facilitated access to Martin Health System’s and Jupiter
Medical Center’s established clinical trial physicians and experience
will help us bring life-saving and preventative therapies to the world
more quickly, ” says Dr. Jay Nelson, Founder and VP of VGTI Florida.
“Collaboration is critical to ensure successful outcomes in clinical
research, and this partnership will help pave the way to future scientific
achievements,” said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive
officer of Martin Health. “This is an exciting opportunity to continue
building the future of research in our region, while helping to change
the way medicine is being delivered for years to come.”
About VGTI Florida
VGTI Florida is an immunological research institute that is on an urgent
mission to transform scientific discoveries into novel treatments and
cures for existing and emerging infectious diseases, influenza and cancer.
VGTI Florida is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located
in the Tradition Center for Innovation in Port St. Lucie, Florida. For
more information, please visit www.VGTIFL.org. VGTI Florida™ is
a Trademark of the Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida.
About Jupiter Medical Center
A not-for-profit 283-bed regional medical center consisting of 163 private
acute care hospital beds and 120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation
and Hospice beds, Jupiter Medical Center provides a broad range of services
with specialty concentrations in oncology, imaging, orthopedics &
spine, digestive health, emergency services, lung & thoracic, women’s
health, weight management and men’s health. Founded in 1979, the
medical center has approximately 1,500 team members, 520 physicians and
700 volunteers. Jupiter Medical Center is the recipient of the HealthGrades
‘America’s 50 Best’ Award™ for three years in
a row (2011-2013) and the Distinguished Hospital Award - Clinical Excellence™
for nine years in a row (2005-2013). For more information on Jupiter Medical
Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit
www.jupitermed.com.
About Martin Health System
Martin Health System is a not-for-profit, community-based health care
organization that has served the region for more than 70 years. It offers
a continuum of care including preventive, primary and acute hospital care,
as well as cancer and cardiac care, wellness and rehabilitation services.
Its approximately 3,000 associates, 375 affiliated physicians and more
than 850 volunteers provide care at 12 different locations serving Martin
and St. Lucie counties. Martin Health is an eight-time winner of the Truven
Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals Award, has twice been named a Thomson
Reuters 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals award winner, and received designation
as a National Employer of Choice designee for 2009 and 2010-11. To learn
more, visit
www.martinhealth.org.
Clinical Trial Consortium 2013