The Ohio State University, Cardinal Health, State of Ohio Complete $13 Million Facility that Aims to Advance Medical Imaging

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio State University, Cardinal Health and State of Ohio Third Frontier Commission today announced the completion of a five-year-long project to create a new, $13 million molecular imaging pharmaceuticals center that aims to shape the future of the medical diagnostic industry.

The state-of-the-art, 27,000-square-foot facility – called the Translational Research Center for Molecular Imaging Pharmaceuticals at the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging – will combine Ohio State's Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging's research capabilities with Cardinal Health's developmental, manufacturing and commercialization expertise for molecular imaging agents.

The facility will research and produce specialized pharmaceuticals called "imaging agents," which are injected into the body and seek out particular cellular functions that are indicative of specific disease processes. These imaging agents are visible using sophisticated imaging equipment, and help aid in both the diagnosis and treatment of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

"This research center is another example of how effective private-public partnerships can be at creating investment and opportunity right here in Ohio," said Ohio Lt. Governor Mary Taylor. "Strong leadership from Cardinal Health and The Ohio State University in collaboration with the State of Ohio will not only create good-paying jobs, but also provide opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research leading to new breakthroughs in medical imaging, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals."

The facility is located on Ohio State's west campus, in close proximity to its Wexner Medical Center, Veterinary Medical Center, West Campus Technology and Incubator facilities – with the ultimate goal of ensuring the new facility is fully integrated into key infrastructure at Ohio State.

"The competitively awarded Ohio Third Frontier funding has been the key enabler to transform Ohio's technology and innovation environment and bring us all together to synergize our collective teams, resources and potential to shape the future of Ohio's economy, precision healthcare and scientific discoveries," said Michael Knopp, MD, PhD, principal investigator and director of the Wright Center.

The new center supports more than 80 employees, including Ohio State researchers and Cardinal Health radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and nuclear pharmacy operations personnel. In addition, an endowed faculty position as the Ohio Molecular Imaging Pharmaceutical Scholar – along with other researchers – have been added to the faculty and staff of Ohio State's Department of Radiology.

"We are very excited that this collaboration between Cardinal Health and Ohio State will advance medical imaging to more effectively alert patients to seek treatment for life-threatening diseases," said Ohio State President Michael V. Drake. "The university's research expertise paired with the development capacity of Cardinal Health will expedite the discovery and delivery of quality health care while promoting a critical industry in our region."

The new molecular imaging technology center will provide Ohio State researchers with unique manufacturing capabilities and expertise to aid in their research and creation of new molecular imaging agents in Positron Emission Tomography, also known as PET imaging. As new imaging pharmaceuticals move through the drug approval pipeline, Cardinal Health will also support their development, manufacturing and dispensing for clinical drug trials in Ohio and across its national network of radiopharmaceutical facilities.

"This public-private partnership positions central Ohio as a state-of-the-art location for the research, development, clinical investigational trials and full commercialization of new molecular imaging agents," said George Barrett, chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health. "By helping physicians diagnose disease at its earliest stages and evaluate the efficacy of treatment, these new imaging pharmaceuticals can save lives and help reduce the overall cost of health care."

About the Ohio Third Frontier Program
Ohio Third Frontier, administered through the Ohio Development Services Agency, is committed to expanding Ohio's technological strengths and promoting the commercialization that leads to economic prosperity throughout Ohio. Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture early stage companies, and foster the technology development that make existing industries more productive, Ohio Third Frontier creates opportunity through innovation. The Ohio Third Frontier is a $2.1 billion initiative to create an "innovation ecosystem" that is leveraged by additional federal and private sector support.

About the OSU Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging
Established with Ohio Third Frontier funding in 2003 and led by Michael V. Knopp, MD, PhD, as principal investigator and director, the Center aspires to make Ohio a world leader in biological, biomedical, and healthcare related imaging technology and services for human as well as veterinary applications. This initiative has a potential multi-billion dollar impact, creating hundreds of high-tech jobs for Ohio's citizens. To date, the Center deploys an array of imaging technologies, including the latest digital high and ultra-high field MRI and digital detector PET/CT systems to help physicians and scientists better understand disease processes and treatment. Key partners include Cardinal Health (Dublin), Philips Healthcare (Cleveland), Nationwide Children's Hospital and several Ohio academic institutions.

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $91 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products and services to more than 100,000 locations each day and is also the industry-leading direct-to-home medical supplies distributor. The company is a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #22 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs 34,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

About The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University is a dynamic community of diverse resources, where opportunity thrives and where individuals transform themselves and the world. Founded in 1870, Ohio State is a world-class public research university and the leading comprehensive teaching and research institution in the state of Ohio. With more than 64,000 students (including 58,000 in Columbus), the Wexner Medical Center, 14 colleges, 80 centers and 175 majors, the university offers its students tremendous breadth and depth of opportunity in the liberal arts, the sciences and the professions.

SOURCE Cardinal Health