UT, Knoxville and UTMC Pursue Scientific Breakthroughs, Community Impact in Center for Precision Health
Leaders from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center gathered Sept. 3 to celebrate the opening of the Center for Precision Health, a new shared space occupying the third floor of the Orthopaedic Institute in the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. The center—which includes areas for a clinical core facility, advanced medical device innovations, entrepreneurial development and computational medicine—will house UT faculty, UTMC physicians and community partners and is designed to facilitate transdisciplinary collaboration that will improve the lives of Tennesseans.
"Our goal for the Center for Precision Health has always been to create a space where researchers, physicians and students can work together to find solutions for the health challenges facing the people of Tennessee and beyond," said Chancellor Donde Plowman. "I can't wait to see the incredible discoveries that take place here and all the ways this center supports excellence in research."
New technology, new opportunities
The center's Medical Device Innovation Core, or MeDIC, features a six-axis robotic 3D printer that can print artificial bones, tendons and nerves using polymers. The printer sits in an environmentally controlled "clean room" and will be open to researchers in engineering, veterinary medicine and biomedical science.
The proximity of the space to offices of orthopedists and other physicians and medical professionals makes it easier to pursue new scientific discoveries, said David Anderson, associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
"In meeting with people across the country, we discovered the tipping point for translating new technology into practical results is co-locating scientists and physicians in the same space," he said. "It's also an amazing opportunity for students. We expect to develop a vibrant ecosystem of students, faculty, clinicians and staff that will develop the workforce of tomorrow. Teaching and training are why we're here."
Advances in medical technology from MeDIC could lead to new medical devices and orthopedic implants made to regenerative tissue that restores form and function to patients. Such breakthroughs can lead to new products, but the process requires coaching and support for prototyping, business model development and commercialization. The new Spark BioHub in the Center for Precision Health will meet that need. The hub, developed by UT's Spark Innovation Center, will combine Spark's expertise in entrepreneurial coaching with a focus on life sciences startups.
Research that improves lives
From the beginning, UT leadership intended the Center for Precision Health to include a clinical core that supports both the university and the hospital with research projects involving human subjects.
"This type of core is a common element of many university partnerships, and our close relationship with UT Medical Center allows us to recruit people into research projects that help individuals and improve our scholarship," said Hollie Raynor, executive associate dean of research and operations in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
Raynor and colleagues from colleges across the university are developing plans for the space, which includes private patient exam rooms, phlebotomy labs and group spaces. In the meantime, Danielle Ostendorf, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, is using the space to complete a research study evaluating a physical activity support program for adults with overweight or obesity. Participants in the study will have opportunities for weekly group meetings with a registered dietician, receive personal support in increasing their physical activity, and learn more about their health—including body fat percentage and activity levels.
"What's great is this space is so easy for people to access," Ostendorf said. "Parking is convenient, private exam rooms ensure confidentiality and it's a beautiful space that welcomes the public."
State-of-the-art spaces
The center also includes several rooms designed for computational medicine and analysis of medical data. One large space includes a 16-foot computer screen for in-depth review of images, as well as switchable glass walls that can be activated from transparent to opaque to ensure privacy. Researchers from both the university and the hospital will use the meeting rooms and technology to diagnose disease, review electronic health records for markers of population health, and conduct data simulations and modeling.
Robert Davis, the UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chair for Biomedical Informatics and founding director of the UT Health Science Center's Center for Biomedical Informatics, says that eventually health monitoring will include sensor data from smart phones or smart watches, and that spaces like CPH will help the medical community develop better methods of synthesizing and analyzing that information.
"No matter what people say about the age of remote work, when you're working with colleagues in math or science or engineering there is not a substitute for meeting in person," Davis said. "We need space for people to work together across disciplines, and that's what the center is."
Leaders at UT say the Center for Precision Health is just the next step in the university's valued partnership with UT Medical Center.
"This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate a shared commitment to collaboration," said Brad Day, associate vice chancellor for research and innovation initiatives. "This is a physical location that will lead to innovation and improved health outcomes for our state, and it's also a symbol of the integration that's possible between the academy, industry and the community."
Provided by University of Tennessee at Knoxville
