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Windber Research Institute Unveiled as Plus for Area Economy
Officials at Windber Medical Center, affiliated with Conemaugh Health System, triggered the development of WRI. After extensive meetings with various companies in California's Silicon Valley, they speculate that commercial enterprises in the fields of high-tech medical research and companies engaged in the development of pharmaceuticals will eventually want to locate here. Windber Research Institute will operate as a major component of the comprehensive Clinical Breast Care Project (CBCP). The Institute will collaborate with Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington, DC; Conemaugh Health System (CHS); and the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center (JMBCC), Windber. The WMC campus is the primary site of the JMBCC. Ground was broken for the $5.4 Million facility August 29, 2000. Official dedication of the 14,000-sq. ft. JMBCC is tentatively planned for later this summer. A grant from the Department of Defense will fund the research planned here. U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown is given credit for spearheading the government initiative here. Space for the Clinical Breast Care Project in the Heaton Pavilion at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was dedicated in February.
The Institute will develop a national breast tissue repository, and for that purpose, has on site six isothermal freezers, each capable of storing 40,000 specimens. They will include plasma, serum, fine needle aspirates and other tissue biopsies "from high-risk and/or breast cancer patients from informed donors at all the centers." Windber Research Institute has hired leading scientists in the fields of functional genomics, proteomics and experimental therapeutics and is in the process of setting up the physical properties necessary to proceed with this deep research. The entire project is expected to be fully operational in 60-90 days. The protocols being developed by Windber Research Institute and its collaborating partners place the Institute on the cutting edge of research into genomes and proteins. The further study of proteins, or proteomics, is the hot button for such forward thinking commercial research organizations as Celera Genomics. Proteomics is the next step up the research ladder from genetics and genomics. Proteomics is described as more daunting than genomics because proteins interact in complex ways, expanding their numbers, perhaps into the hundreds of thousands. In mid-February Celera Genomics and a publicly funded consortium of academic centers independently reported the human body has far fewer genes than previously thought. The major science publications Nature and Science reported the findings in depth. The New York Times followed with in depth reportage and follow-up articles on the commercial possibilities further down the road. The national newspaper noted that new impetus is being given "to the emerging field of proteomics, which seeks to identify all proteins and how they relate to one another." This advance information is crucial to the success in development of new drugs to battle cancer and other illnesses.
Reaction to the development of WRI on the campus of Windber Medical Center is universally positive. Lt. Col. Craig R. Shriver, M.D. FACS, Chief of Surgical Oncology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Director of CBCP says reaction in Washington is "positive and exciting. Everyone rightfully identifies the genomics and proteomics at WRI as the future of breast care and research/discovery/therapy/development." Richard A. Saluzzo, Chief Executive Officer of Conemaugh Health System,
calls WRI "a masterful, creative step certain to be of tremendous value to Windber Medical Center and to CHS."
Nick Jacobs, President of Windber Medical Center and President of WRI says, "the work to be done here in coming
months and years will be on the cutting edge of medical science, no doubt about it. This activity certainly will
enhance the image of the Windber area. A possible spin-off is what WRI can contribute to the rebirth of the area
economy. This activity also will solidify the health care role Windber Medical Center will continue to play in
the community; and it is not a stretch to suggest the commercial fall-out from this effort can lead to the continued
growth of the hospital as a clinical research center over the long-term," he continued.
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Findings at WRI will have a direct bearing on the development of a breast
cancer vaccine, the major goal of the Clinical Breast Care Project. The Pilot Tissue Bank Protocol has begun at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center and shortly will be under way in the Breast Care Center at Windber Medical Center.