Overview

Great Lakes Medical Research is a dynamic, prestigious clinical research site centered in historic downtown Westfield, N.Y., in Chautauqua County. It is a division of Westfield Family Physicians, a private family practice group established in 1979. The practice has a consistent, active patient profile of 14,000, offering Great Lakes Medical Research a diverse population for clinical trials. The stable rural population of Chautauqua County and limited access to clinical trials other than those provided at this research site allow ideal recruitment and retention. Patient/staff relationships are genuine, resulting in retention rates of almost 100 percent.

Great Lakes Medical Research prides itself on the quality and accuracy of work completed each and every day. Our staff is not only accountable to the sponsor but most importantly to the study participant. Patient safety is our priority and primary responsibility.

Research Experience

Since its inception in 1999, Great Lakes Medical Research has been involved in phase 2 to 4 clinical trials in an outpatient clinical setting, focusing on patient care and education. The research population includes rural, urban and suburban groups in both pediatric and geriatric individuals.

Great Lakes Medical Research has participated in a number of clinical trials with:

• The National Institute of Health
• Duke University/Research Triangle
• Clinical Trials Network at Columbia University
• University of Buffalo Medical School
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Cleveland Clinic Cardiovascular Coordinating Center

Great Lakes Medical Research has also worked with a number of pharmaceutical companies:

• Pfizer
• Novo Nordisk
• Novartis
• AstraZeneca
• Boehringer Ingelheim
• Takeda
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Johnson & Johnson
• Sanofi Aventis
• Bristol Myers Squibb
• Eli Lily
• Hamilton Health Sciences
• Merke
• Roche

Great Lakes Medical Research specializes in adult chronic diseases and has conducted a number of clinical trials. Many of these trials have been global studies with ground-breaking implications. The therapeutic areas are as follows:

• Type II diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension
• Cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Atrial fibrillation
• Urology
• Respiratory (COPD and asthma)
• Influenza
• Fibromyalgia
• Erectile dysfunction
• Obesity
• Joint pain/arthritis
• Heart failure
• Infectious diseases-influenza
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Facility Description

The research site is located in southwestern New York, approximately 40 minutes south of Buffalo and 30 miles from the city of Erie, Penn. Our location near Routes 5 and 20 and Interstate I-90 gives potential research subjects easy access by car.

The newly remodeled, high-tech research site has exceptional equipment, space and amenities. The research space consists of two dedicated research exam rooms with access to an additional 10 exam rooms upon request. The site has its own ThermoSafe dry ice machine; S0-LOW ultra-low freezer (-20°); REVCO Ultra II freezer (-70°); two blood draw stations; and one lab processing room furnished with centrifuges, refrigeration and sink.

The spacious, double-locked drug storage room is temperature-controlled and monitored daily during regular business hours. The training and conference rooms are equipped with high-speed internet and phone lines used by sponsors and CROs to conduct monitoring visits.

Investigator Experience

The CEO, Dr. Donald Brautigam is a board-certified family physician with more than 35 years' experience. He has been conducting research at Great Lakes Medical Research since 1999. Dr. Brautigam was joined by Dr. T. Gorman and Dr. T. Kitchen resulting in a cumulative total of more than 28 years of clinical experience.

The investigators specialize in adult chronic diseases and have conducted 120 trials in 11 therapeutic areas.

Staff Expertise

Great Lakes Medical Research has an experienced, dedicated clinical research team that includes:

• Three principal investigators
• Three full-time CCRCs
• Two registered nurses
• One part-time research/administrative assistant
• A chief financial officer
• A site manager

Patient Demographics

Great Lakes Medical Research draws research subjects primarily from its parent company, Westfield Family Physicians. Patient demographics at Westfield Family Physicians and surrounding communities include Native American, Hispanic, African American and Anglo-Saxon. Chautauqua County, N.Y., has a stable, altruistic population that is proud to be a part of research.

Other Information

Great Lakes Medical Research has worked with all of the major CROs, central IRBs, laboratory facilities, participant recruitment vendors and shipping companies. All of the research staff are trained on the most widely used electronic data capture systems, interactive voice response systems and e-diaries. Our staff confidently embrace and welcome new research technologies.