Issue link: https://kusm-wichita.uberflip.com/i/1372819
24 Clinical trials at KUSM-Wichita are conducted in all areas of medicine and for all ages, noted Schwasinger-Schmidt, with sponsored funding by pharmaceutical companies, the National Institutes of Health and private foundations. KUSM-Wichita has worked with more than 30 dierent pharmaceutical companies in medication and device development. Outside research revenue has brought in more than $6.5 million over the past four years. The major role of volunteers in clinical trials isn't lost on Schwasinger-Schmidt. In the past two years, more than 300 patients have participated in trials. "The people who volunteer for clinical trials are the true definition of heroes. These are people who may or may not derive benefits but the majority of them do it because they are wanting to protect their families or they are wanting a cure for Alzheimer's to be out there for their grandchildren," she said. "These are people who volunteer their time and their bodies to help us understand diseases as researchers and physicians and help us make advances that can really help the next generation." Atherton, the participant in Guthrie's human insulin study, didn't realize she was making history when she signed up. Neither did Tori Van Fleet Kujala. "I was just grateful that I was able to get into it," said Atherton, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 37. "I was very, very blessed to be accepted. They were just figuring it all out and it became a big benefit for me." For Kujala, being in the study "pretty much saved my life," she said. Diabetes ran rampant in her family, with her dad and four siblings having the condition as well, so she knew how precarious it could be to get one's blood sugars regulated. For patients, a strong research program means more treatment options, Schwasinger-Schmidt said. For Atherton and Kujala, for example, it meant being able to regulate their diabetes with a novel biosynthetic human insulin product rather than the traditional pork insulin. "What we're looking for is being able to bring options to Kansans so that if they don't have other treatment choices, this may be an option for them to receive care," Schwasinger-Schmidt said. "We also see the educational aspect of it, because a lot of these medicines are up-and-coming investigational products that may hit the market at some point in time if they are successful in doing what we're testing for. So, for medical students and residents, we are teaching them about drug development and how these medications come to market and come to use, and about post-market analysis, as well," she said. "There are lots of diseases that do have treatments, but what's nice about investigational drugs is that science is always changing, and discovery is always occurring," Kallail said. "What clinical trials allow us to do is oer new cutting-edge therapies even in diseases that have therapies readily available." "What we are doing really does change the face of medicine," Schwasinger-Schmidt added. "I tell people all the time that I'm so fortunate that I get to be a part of history." KU Wichita Center for Breast Cancer Survivorship, KU Wichita Endocrinology and KU Wichita Adult Medicine open at Cypress Medical Park in northeast Wichita. KU School of Medicine seeks approval from the LCME to develop the Wichita campus into a full four-year medical school. Construction of a 26,000- square-foot expansion for KU School of Pharmacy- Wichita is completed. 2010 2010 2010 What clinical trials allow us to do is oer new cutting-edge therapies even in diseases that have therapies readily available. K. James Kallail, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research