DaVita Clinical Research (DCR), a provider of clinical research services focused on kidney research, will enter the St Anthony Hospital campus in Lakewood, Colo.

The 35,000-square-foot unit will be physically connected to St. Anthony Hospital in Medical Plaza One and will be operational in mid-2012. The facility will hold 80 beds, which increases DCR’s physical capacity from 42 to 122 beds in North America, and is expected to create more than 50 specialized jobs.

“We are excited about our partnership with a hospital that has such a strong reputation with health care professionals and patients throughout Colorado,” said Kent Thiry, DaVita chairman and CEO.

The facility will support high-risk studies and an expanded ability to support normal, healthy volunteer phase I clinical studies. The custom-designed facility will provide DCR with the capacity needed to grow its clinical research business in existing specialty populations, including renal patients.

“Our partnership with DCR adds value to the community and Centura hospitals by providing new opportunities for local patients and collaborative relationships in the medical teams that can ultimately improve the quality of care,” stated Jeff Brickman, CEO of St. Anthony Hospital and president of Centura Health’s Mountains North Denver Operating Group, which includes St. Anthony Hospital.

“This opportunity expands our leadership role in renal-related research and further diversifies our research capabilities,” said DCR president Chris Rucker.