The site received a $2 million grant from Maine Technology Institute to repurpose and equip an existing space at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford.
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Maine’s first clinical research unit is expected to significantly increase patient access to clinical trials and strengthen the state’s clinical research capabilities.
The unit is a project of MaineHealth, which received a $2 million grant from Maine Technology Institute to repurpose and equip an existing space at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford.
Game-changer
The unit will be a dedicated space for early- and late-phase clinical trials, according to a news release.
MaineHealth already offers a range of clinical trials. But its ability to enroll patients has been limited by the lack of dedicated clinical research infrastructure required for certain studies, particularly those that require observation after treatment.
The dedicated unit will include observation rooms that can be used for overnight stays, as well as a dedicated pharmacy and easy access to common clinical trial needs such as lab work, imaging and other diagnostics.
The unit has the potential to be a game-changer to improve health equity for patients in rural communities, said Dr. Doug Sawyer, MaineHealth’s chief academic officer.
The $2 million covers the cost of opening the unit, a MaineHealth spokesperson told Mainebiz. It’s expected that more funding will be needed for a second phase of development after the opening and as the number of clinical trials increases over time. MaineHealth has raised $500,000 toward that effort.
The 5,500-square-foot unit will be in a renovated space at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford. Examples of equipment that will be added include a Dexa scan, which measures bone density to diagnose osteoporosis and predict the risk of fracture, and eye exam equipment.
New hires
MaineHealth expects to add 10 to 13 new positions in the first year and add additional full-time positions in future years based on clinical trial volume.
MaineHealth anticipates the unit will focus its first several years on common conditions in Maine and is exploring areas such as oncology, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease and mental and behavioral health.
"Cancer care is evolving quickly, and many of the most promising advances reach patients first through clinical trials,” said Dr. Jens Rueter, the Jackson Laboratory’s chief medical officer. “Through the work of the Jackson Laboratory’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative, we’ve seen how powerful it is when clinicians have direct access to clinical trials, and MaineHealth’s clinical research unit will significantly enhance options for cancer patients here in Maine."
Real-world research
The unit will also benefit early-career researchers by allowing them more opportunities to design clinical trials and engage in clinical research, an approach that benefits learners at MaineHealth and at other Maine medical schools and nursing programs.
“Clinical trials conducted in this space have the potential to make significant contributions to human health, life sciences, innovation and the advancement of biomedical technologies,” said Jessica Chertow, MaineHealth’s vice president of research.
By connecting education, real-world clinical research and patient care, the unit will give trainees a direct role in meaningful clinical studies, added Karen Houseknecht, vice president of research and innovation at the University of New England.
The unit is scheduled to be underway no later than December with a goal of providing care to patients in 2027.
