Phoenix Children's Hospital Announces Formation of Pediatric Institute of Molecular Medicine

PHOENIX, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Children's Hospital announced the creation of the Ronald A. Matricaria Institute of Molecular Medicine today, with the goal to unlock genetic codes and develop drug therapies in real time to improve the outcome for thousands of young patients.

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"Our goal is to bring genomics research to the forefront of pediatrics," said Robert L. Meyer, Phoenix Children's president and CEO. "Research and development of novel treatments for pediatric diseases has fallen short over past decades."  According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 70 percent of all medications prescribed to children have been tested only in adults.  Clinical studies in children lead to a better understanding of the specific differences between children and adults, thus leading to the development of safer, more effective, and age-appropriate treatments.

"We also must address a fundamental flaw in traditional and personalized medicine – diagnosis and treatment of a disease based on clinical instead of genomic information," Meyer noted.

Molecular, or personalized, medicine uses genetic information to determine the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. By studying a patient's genetic makeup, researchers can identify the individual's susceptibility to disease, predict their response to a particular drug, and match the patient with a specific therapy. The team will focus on pediatric cancers in phase one, and expand to other pediatric diseases over time.

Two distinguished scientists are joining Phoenix Children's and were named the institute's co-directors:

• Timothy Triche, MD, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Cancer Biology, Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, and Director, Center for Personalized Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and
• Robert Arceci, MD, PhD, King Fahd Director of Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

A critical component to this venture is Phoenix Children's collaborative relationships with leading bioscience institutions. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix brings academic and research programs, as well as academic credentials necessary to recruit and develop a research program. 

The College utilized a $1.25 million gift from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to help secure the two endowed chairs.

"The Institute is a critical piece in the development of our campus and the emerging academic medical center in Phoenix," said Stuart D. Flynn, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix. "This program will catalyze Phoenix Children's Hospital and our region to become national contributors and leaders in molecular medicine.

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) contributes deep expertise in genomics and bioinformatics and sophisticated laboratory space. Joining the leadership team in a collaborative role is Daniel Von Hoff, MD, Physician in Chief, Senior Investigator, Director of Translational Research for TGen, who will leverage his experience in clinical trials for adults to advance therapy development in children.

"A challenge with existing molecular medicine programs is the amount of time that it takes to develop a new drug or treatment," Meyer said. "Our collaboration with TGen and University of Arizona opens the doors to making a portfolio of drugs and compounds available immediately."

Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children in the United States, and the need for pediatric cancer therapies is especially acute. "Half of all childhood cancer patients will relapse, yet virtually no new therapy has been introduced in the past two decades," Von Hoff said.

A founding gift by Ronald A. Matricaria provided the initial investment to establish the institute. Matricaria is a member of the Phoenix Children's Hospital board of directors and former chairman/CEO of St. Jude Medical,  Inc. Additional funding for the $50 million venture will come from philanthropic contributions and grant revenue. Initially, the institute will employ 50 scientists and other staff, contributing to Phoenix's growing biomedical corridor.

"I'm thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking venture," Matricaria said. "Based on my knowledge of the institute and many years of working in the medical field, I'm confident that we can chart a new course for addressing the unique needs of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

About Phoenix Children's Hospital

Phoenix Children's Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals, is Arizona's only licensed children's hospital, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children's hospitals in the country with 465 licensed beds, Phoenix Children's provides care across more than 60 pediatric subspecialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the Hospital, visit www.phoenixchildrens.com.

About University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix admitted its inaugural class of first-year medical students in August 2007. The College of Medicine – Phoenix currently has 265 students training to be physicians. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains individuals to become exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders who are lifelong learners and inquisitive scholars and who will embrace professionalism, innovation and collaboration to optimize health and health care for all. For more information, visit phoenixmed.arizona.edu.

About TGen

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life-changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit www.tgen.org.

SOURCE Phoenix Children's Hospital