MedStar Health Collaborates with Indivumed to Advance Precision Oncology Research
MedStar Health will collaborate with Indivumed to advance our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through collection and analysis of biospecimens and clinical data, making possible new individualized diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Columbia, Md. (August 3, 2017)—MedStar Health is pleased to announce a collaboration with Indivumed, GmbH, a Germany-based oncology research company, to individualize anti-cancer medical therapies through state-of-the-art biospecimen collection, preservation and analysis.
MedStar cares for thousands of cancer patients and survivors through the MedStar Health Cancer Network. In collaboration with the MedStar Health Research Institute, MedStar is increasing biospecimen collection started nearly a decade ago at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over the term of the agreement, the cancer biobank will encompass MedStar’s most active cancer programs throughout the system to partner with Indivumed’s global annotated cancer biobank of human tumor tissue samples used to develop anti-tumor drugs and personalized medicine for cancer.
This international partnership will allow MedStar researchers to access highest quality biospecimens and associated clinical data contributed by consenting patients. In addition, MedStar cancer researchers will have access to samples contributed by more than 30,000 patients within Indivumed’s global cancer database operating within Europe, Asia and the United States.
"By participating in the Indivumed global network, we’ll have access to a critical mass of biological samples and clinical data for use in unique research for our community," said Neil Weissman, MD, president of the MedStar Health Research Institute. "Indivumed is a world leader in tissue collection and preservation and will expand our ability to conduct metabolic, as well as gene-based, cancer research."
MedStar’s Cancer Network has recently been granted a three-year accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS). In addition, the Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center holds the distinction of being a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only cancer center in the Washington area with such distinction. Louis M. Weiner, MD, director of Georgetown Lombardi and Director of MedStar’s integrated cancer network stated firmly that, "the MedStar Cancer Network and Georgetown Lombardi are committed to delivering the highest standards of care and providing access to the most current cutting edge research for our patients suffering from this horrendous disease." Weiner continued, "the Indivumed cancer biobank has been and will continue to be a critical asset to our physicians and researchers in their quest to defeat cancer."
Under an initial multi-year agreement, MedStar will collect lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and other cancer tissues at its most active cancer programs throughout the system for research and storage according to Indivumed’s unique biobanking standard. Tissue collection at Georgetown Lombardi will continue pursuant to Georgetown University’s existing agreement with Indivumed.
About MedStar Health Research Institute
The MedStar Health Research Institute is the research arm of MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. MHRI provides scientific, administrative and regulatory support for research programs throughout the MedStar Health system. MHRI’s expertise includes translational research into disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These programs complement the key clinical services and teaching programs in the 10 MedStar hospitals and other MedStar entities. For more information, visit www.MedStarResearch.org.
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.