U of M and Keio University School of Medicine Initiate Clinical Research Education e-Program

First project of its kind at the U

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Nov. 21, 2007) -- The University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and Keio University School of Medicine have received a grant from the Medtronic Foundation in order to develop an e-learning program for clinical research personnel in the United States and Japan. The new program will allow University of Minnesota researchers to share their clinical research expertise with Japan in order to quickly move medical research forward to improve the health of humans globally.

Japanese clinical research lags behind the global standard when compared with other developed nations. A lack of sufficient training and postgraduate education for clinical researchers combined with busy clinical training schedules of junior doctors leave an insufficient time for them to study clinical research methodologies. These factors are thought to be major contributors to the clinical research lag in Japan, and it is hoped that the new e-collaboration with the University of Minnesota will address these issues in order to improve the situation.

“The University of Minnesota values continued learning for clinical research personnel both here and abroad, and the new e-learning program collaboration will provide doctors with unlimited access to cutting-edge, Web-based research instructions,” said Mark S. Paller, M.D., M.S., assistant vice president for research at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center.

The grant from the Medtronic Foundation has allowed the University of Minnesota to develop its well-established clinical research education materials into a Web-based training system which will be translated into Japanese for use at the Keio University School of Medicine Center for Clinical Research by 2009. Keio University School of Medicine, which provides core training and assistance for clinical research and training in Japan, will use the new Web-based system to improve upon its current clinical research practices.

The Academic Health Center is home to the University of Minnesota’s six health professional schools and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes. Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land grant institutions in the country. The AHC prepares the new health professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.

The Center for Clinical Research was established at Keio University School of Medicine in 2006 as a core organization to provide training and assistance for clinical research and training. Headed by the dean, Makoto Suematsu, the center aims to improve infrastructure for clinical research and trials, and to offer higher education and training thereof.

Contact: Laura Stroup, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680 or stro0481@umn.edu
Sarah Youngerman, Academic Health Center, 612-624-4604 or syounger@umn.edu
Rich Fischer, Medtronic Foundation, 763-505-2975 or richard.fischer@medtronic.com