The Reporter: February 1997, Vol.8, No.1
The Global Campus
CPMC's Clinical Trials: Leading the World

The CPMC Office of Clinical Trials has established itself as a world leader. In fact, the University of Hong Kong has chosen to base its own clinical trials program on CPMC's after surveying 300 programs worldwide. "Basically," says Michael Leahey, director of the Office of Clinical Trials, "they chose CPMC as the very best."

That interest in CPMC's program has led to an ongoing relationship with the University of Hong Kong that culminated in a site visit to CPMC late last year.

The group from Hong Kong met with the local clinical trials staff to put the finishing touches on the Hong Kong office, which is a carbon copy of CPMC's program.

"The University of Hong Kong's clinical trials program may become a satellite enrolling center for CPMC, which is attractive to our sponsors and researchers because it gives us an entry into the immense Chinese market," says Mr. Leahey. "Also, they can provide a host of services, such as monitoring studies, at a price much lower than contract research organizations. This is an important link for drug companies into China and will thereby attract potential partners to Columbia."

Mr. Leahey explains that CPMC has submitted a proposal to a foundation in Hong Kong to bring people from there to this center for joint training programs. "In addition, we will eventually exchange teaching and training materials and later this year we will visit their site."

Also in 1997, the first world conference of offices of clinical trials will be held at the University of Hong Kong. Among the representatives from each continent will be staff members of CPMC's Office of Clinical Trials.