A consortium called the CardioHealth Alliance brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts to improve the care and health of patients across cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. The Alliance, which was established by leaders from the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) and the Stanford Center for Clinical Research, welcomes Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly as new members and invites clinicians, patients, data scientists, health care leaders, and policy makers to partner to improve disease care pathways and expedite the implementation of evidence into practice.
“Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., and we expect that COVID-19 will lead to higher rates of heart disease and death over the next few years,” said Adrian Hernandez, MD, MHS, cardiologist and executive director of the DCRI. “We need a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to rapidly advance new ways to study the disease and streamlined paths to apply what we learn. Harnessing the collective experience of stakeholders will result in better solutions that are based in data and implemented more quickly for the patients who need it most.”
A broad portfolio of research will take place within the CardioHealth Alliance, leveraging existing partnerships with large health systems and other research institutions. Initial institutional members of the Alliance include Allina Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, Ochsner Medical Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, and UPMC.
“The CardioHealth Alliance is focused on taking new approaches to the clinical study and implementation of heart health care,” said Ken Mahaffey, MD, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and director of the Stanford Center for Clinical Research. “We’re also addressing the value of care through policy. Together, we are focused on disrupting how we prevent and care for this pervasive disease, which costs substantial loss of life, as well as billions of dollars each year in health care.”
The Alliance’s key goals are to:
- Use real-world data to inform real-world care
- Develop and test new disease care pathways and practices
- Scale and optimize best practices
- Continuously address value of care through effective policy
“Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are proud to join this transformative research alliance dedicated to implementing evidence-based therapies into real-world clinical practice. These types of collaborative efforts are critical for addressing the growing burden of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases in the U.S.,” said Mohamed Eid, MD, MPH, MHA, vice president, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Cardio-Renal-Metabolism & Respiratory Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “This partnership is a testament to our shared belief in the power of a holistic, evidence-based approach to care to mitigate some of the biggest public health problems facing our country today.”
For more information, visit the cardiohealthalliance.org or contact CardioHealthAlliance@dm.duke.edu.
About the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI)
The DCRI, part of the Duke University School of Medicine, is the largest academic clinical research organization in the world. Our mission is to develop, share, and implement knowledge that improves global health through innovative clinical research. The institute conducts multinational clinical trials, manages major national patient registries, and performs landmark outcomes research. The DCRI is a pioneer in cardiovascular clinical research, and conducts groundbreaking clinical research across multiple other therapeutic areas, including infectious disease, neuroscience, respiratory medicine, and nephrology. The DCRI serves as the coordinating center for PCORnet®, The National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.
About the Stanford Center for Clinical Research (SCCR)
SCCR is an Academic Research Organization (ARO) within the Department of Medicine in the Stanford University School of Medicine. The mission of SCCR is to advance impactful clinical research through quality operations. The SCCR leverages physical and intellectual resources of Stanford University and its affiliated teaching hospitals and research centers to achieve this mission. In collaboration with faculty and sponsors, SCCR conducts innovative and evidence-based operations and has particular expertise in evaluation of mobile and digital technologies.