By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
March 7, 2012

Dybedal Clinical Research Center has helped bring new drugs to the market and it’s sitting right here in Historic Northeast.

One aspect that sets Dybedal Clinical Research Center apart from other research centers is its staff.

“We are the only research center in the region in which every single personnel working on the research is nationally certified,” said Dr. Patrick Clay, director of clinical research and associate professor of pharmacology at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.

Located at KCUMB, the research center launched in 2005 and has conducted clinical trials involving diabetes, cholesterol, HIV, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, among others.

The purpose of clinical trials is to determine whether or not a drug is safe and effective. Before clinical testing even starts, a drug undergoes exhaustive laboratory research. If the laboratory research is deemed successful, the data is sent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval in testing the drug in humans.

Before being released onto the market, a drug undergoes an average of 15 years worth of research and development, Clay said. The average cost to develop an FDA approved drug is $1.24 million, according to the CISCRP (The Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation), and in 2010, more than 8,000 drugs were being tested worldwide.

Through its clinical studies, Dybedal helped introduce drugs for HIV, high blood pressure and fibromyalgia.

“That is one of the proudest things we do when we’re finally able to bring those drugs out of the research center and they’re being used in the community, being prescribed by physicians in the area,” Clay said.

For clinical studies, Dybedal aims to provide studies that cater to the community’s needs, Clay said. A future goal is to offer weight loss and obesity studies, he said. In the mean time, KCUMB is researching ways to motivate the community to become more fit and active.

Currently, Dybedal is offering nine clinical trials, which ranges from Type 1 and 2 diabetes to chronic back pain to seasonal allergies to emphysema. On average, each clinical trial at Dybedal uses 10 volunteers, but some studies enroll more than 50 volunteers. Drug sponsors want enrollees to adequately represent the U.S. in terms of geographic distribution and enrollment diversity, Clay said. That’s why studies on a particular drug are conducted across the U.S. and not in one region only.

Clinical studies at Dybedal typically last six months and followup visits with volunteers can range from weekly to monthly to twice a year. Dybedal works with each individual’s schedule and also provides transportation for study patients if necessary. In addition to its waiting area and private examination rooms, Dybedal also helps volunteers feel at home with video game systems, a cozy lounge with reading area and big screen TV, free wireless Internet access and other entertainment. Also, if a study volunteer needs help with daycare in order to attend a trial, Dybedal will reimburse the volunteer for daycare costs during his or her stay or visit at the research center. Volunteers are also compensated for their time, and compensation varies with each study.

Free health screenings

Another aspect of the Dybedal Clinical Research Center is its free health screenings for the community.

Screenings can be individualized and can include cholesterol and blood glucose checks, a diabetes risk assessment, medication review, cardiovascular risk assessment, among other assessments.

“We’re a medical school – we teach physicians here, so we’re very well versed in most of the disease states people are going to have,” Clay said.

However, if necessary, Dybedal staff will make referrals to other health care providers.

The center is located at 1750 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo., and appointments are available Monday through Friday afternoons. To schedule an appointment, call (816) 654-7654.

Whether its through clinical trials or free health assessments, Dybedal Clinical Research Center is helping to improve the health of Northeast residents and Kansas Citians.

“That’s a great return on our investment,” Clay said, “because people are getting better and healthier in the area.”

To find out more about the Dybedal Clinical Research Center or if you qualify for a clinical research trial, call (816) 654-7650 or toll-free at 1-(877) 425-0250. Questions may also be emailed to crc@kcumb.edu.