MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation

15/10/2024

Join the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation to celebrate health care research in our community. During this virtual event, our researchers will offer podium presentations about their projects.

To learn more and register: https://multica.re/3Qw9nYR

09/10/2024

"A once-weekly insulin has the potential to simplify dose administration and diminish barriers to starting insulin therapy by means of a reduction in injection burden as compared with a once-daily insulin," wrote the team behind the Type 2 diabetes trial, which was led by Carol Wysham, MD, an endocrinologist with the MultiCare Rockwood Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Spokane, Wash.

Weekly insulin shots can help control both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes as well as daily injections do, a pair of clinical trials have found.

03/10/2024

"Luckily, local physicians such as Dr. Rachel Safran are helping find answers through drug trials and research studies to improve the aging process for people with HIV. Safran is a primary care physician at MultiCare's Rockwood Clinic, as well as the HIV research lead for the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation."

It was the early 1990s, and Bill had gotten some routine blood work done at the DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston. "The Houston...

25/09/2024

On National Research Administratiors Day we recognize the backbone of our research program. Our research administration team works behind the scenes to identify and evaluate the feasibility of new trials; negotiate and manage contracts and budgets, study startup and approvals; and oversee billing, regulatory and quality assurance compliance. Our important work wouldn't be possible without these dedicated professionals.

23/09/2024

As part of his colorectal cancer treatment, Chad Smith decided to participate in a phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the intravenous injection of a dye during his surgery.

“As a surgeon, I think you always have to look for ways to innovate, to make surgery less invasive and to help people recover faster. This study will help determine whether injecting a dye can improve visualization of the ureter during surgery, potentially making the operation safer and also reducing the risk of complications," says Laila Rashidi, MD, FACS, FASCRS, a board-certified colorectal surgeon at MultiCare and principal investigator on the trial.

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital is one of only three sites in the country, and worldwide, conducting this study for colorectal surgery. The MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation partners with MultiCare facilities, like Tacoma General, as well as community medical practices, to elevate patient care through research.

A colorectal cancer survivor sees a clinical trial as an opportunity to benefit “the greater good” while potentially improving his surgical outcome.

18/09/2024

Deaths from cancer are declining.

What’s driving this progress? A big factor is medical research. Studies have led to improvements in treatments, diagnostics and screening, leading to earlier cancer detection and a longer, better quality of life after diagnosis. MultiCare Health System has played a role in oncology advances since 1983, when the organization first began participating in research.

Medical research has led to improvements in cancer treatments, diagnostics and screening, leading to earlier cancer detection.

20/08/2024

MultiCare primary care physician Rachel Safran, who has specialized in HIV care for many years, has seen how care has changed. Medications were not terribly effective and often were toxic, she said.

“HIV quite honestly it was a death sentence in the 80s and 90s and people didn’t expect to live very long. But now people living with HIV can lead a totally normal life,” she said.

Also a medical researcher, Safran helped develop a new HIV medication lenacapavir, which was approved by the FDA in 2022. The drug is specifically engineered to replace other drugs when patients become resistant to them over time. According to Safran, that need becomes greater the longer a patient has HIV.

“It works in a totally different way than other drugs. And that’s essential because it can be added on to other medications if those are failing,” she said. Typically those who have had HIV for decades start to run out of options because their medications stop working.

Read more on The Spokesman-Review .

Once a death sentence, HIV infection is now a lifelong condition with which you can live a long, healthy life. But as life expectancy of the much stigmatized disease increases, physicians must now grapple with how to care for HIV at the same time as old age.

15/07/2024

Ageism can impact research — historically, older adults have been underrepresented in clinical trials. In 2023, MultiCare's Research Institute initiated two vaccine-related studies specifically targeting older populations.

“A lot of our participants who are older adults are really excited to be a part of research, contribute to the greater good, improve care for themselves and for future generations in their family.” says Sarah Furth, a clinical research coordinator at the Research Institute.

Ageism in health care affects older adults in a variety of ways, such as how they are spoken to, what diagnoses they receive and their inclusion in research.

03/07/2024

Nathan, approaching the maintenance phase of his cancer treatment, faced a choice between a final competitive high school track season and trying an innovative cancer treatment strategy that could increase his chances of the cancer not recurring. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital was one of several clinical trial sites across the country testing the drug, and one of five in the state of Washington.

His cancer journey inspired him to pursue a career in diagnostic ultrasound — and led him right back to the place and health system that helped him heal.

Inspired by the test that uncovered his cancer, 17-year-old Mary Bridge Children's patient goes on to pursue a career in diagnostic ultrasound.

20/05/2024

Today is designated as Clinical Trials Day by the ACRP - Association of Clinical Research Professionals. We are proud of our 40-year legacy of improving the lives of patients in our communities through research. This research enables our providers to deliver high-quality care and support to our patients — and contribute valuable knowledge that improves well-being for patients everywhere.

22/04/2024

MultiCare physician Rachel Safran, MD believes research is essential to her practice. "As internal medicine physicians, we are...trained to actually look at the big picture, which means you have to look forward. So, access to both the most innovative and current technologies is not just important for our patients who have really complex conditions that would benefit from new treatments, but particularly for us as physician scientists to make sure we have the best and the greatest knowledge to really care for all of our patients."

Hear more from Dr. Safran here.

10/04/2024

When the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic first became public knowledge in the early 1980s, very little was known about the virus. Researchers focused their efforts on prevention and treating those already infected.

But four decades later, we’ve reached a point where researchers can now focus on how to care for those living long-term with HIV, says Rachel Safran, MD, MultiCare internal medicine provider who specializes in HIV.

Decades after the HIV epidemic began, we've reached a point where researchers can focus on how to care for those living long-term with HIV.

02/04/2024

Thank you to our committed physician researchers who are changing the face of health care and providing hope for our patients and all those who will benefit from what we are learning here at MultiCare.

Today is for the doctors 🩺

National Doctors’ Day is a chance to show thanks to doctors across our organization and beyond for their dedicated and compassionate care. Our communities are stronger and healthier because of you.

Is there a doctor in your life? Show them your appreciation in the comments ⬇️

20/03/2024

Not even a decade ago, a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis felt like the end of the world for many. Fast-forward to present day: MultiCare’s neuroscience and research teams are encouraged by how far treatment has come — and say that momentum is only growing.

Clinical research has helped develop new therapies for multiple sclerosis. But public understanding of MS needs to catch up.

06/03/2024

Steven Phillips, MD, is a pediatric neurologist at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital’s and lead investigator in the pediatric neurology research program at MultiCare's Research Institute. With a special interest in caring for pediatric patients with epilepsy and autism, Dr. Phillips is working to find better treatments for such conditions as Dravet syndrome. This rare form of severe epilepsy is most often caused by a gene mutation.

"At Mary Bridge … we have a genetic treatment where we can provide what the gene mutation cannot to the patients, and hopefully reverse the condition. We screened the first patient in the world here at Mary Bridge." Learn more about Dr. Phillips' research here.

29/02/2024

Over 25 million Americans and their families are living with a rare disease and 50% of those affected are children.

4-year-old Paxton is one of those kiddos. He lives with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of severe epilepsy with few effective treatments available. The neurology team at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's, in collaboration with MultiCare's Research Institute, worked with Paxton's family to enroll him in a clinical trial that has offered them some hope.

Paxton’s family shares his journey with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of severe epilepsy, and their decision to pursue a pediatric clinical trial.