Mar 31: No time to waste, patients are waiting
On behalf of the Utrecht TRial Innovation ALliance (U-TRIAL), Peter Hermans is the 'port d'entrée' at strategic program I&I for the private sector that intends to conduct clinical trials in collaboration with UMC Utrecht. Internally, he also works to strengthen the clinical trial climate by assisting UMC Utrecht's scientific leadership in the acquisition and operational execution of clinical trials.
Peter Hermans: “What I want to achieve is for the I&I principal investigators (PIs) - the clinical researchers of our strategic program - to have more frequent and greater involvement in clinical trials. In short, I have a facilitating and de-emphasizing role, thereby strengthening the clinical trial climate within I&I. For the acquisition of clinical trials, you need to possess two key ingredients: first, you need top-notch clinical PIs and second, you need a well-functioning clinical trial network. Together, we need to ensure that there are networks around the PI with a focus on his/her research area of interest. Having good networks increases the interest from the private sector, which applies to pharma and biotech companies as well as clinical research organizations (CROs).”
Strong foundation
With respect to his credentials Peter says: “I have a strong foundation in academia, science, and the public domain. In addition, I worked in senior roles at Janssen Pharmaceuticals for seven years. Those two worlds are both my hobbies and my passion. Understanding the public and private worlds on a strategic and operational level provides you with the skills to be able to professionally handle the acquisition and execution of clinical trials. I also want to increase the commitment, responsibility and leadership in clinical trials within I&I. Therapeutics that make a difference should get to patients as soon as possible. In this context, I would like to quote the motto of the late Dr. Paul Janssen (founder of Janssen Pharmaceuticals) who said: "No time to waste, patients are waiting." I really would like to be the accelerator for this, for the sake of the patient.”
Port d'entrée
In this function, I fulfill a port d'entrée role for the private sector. I therefore also call the role of Trial & Innovation Lead for U-TRIAL the Liaison Public-Private Partnership. For the private market, clinical trials are most promising when these parties approach us at an early stage. In this situation, we can help think about how these trials fit into the academic environment, and at the same time assist the private party optimally in the development of their medical product. In doing so, trials are better and more efficiently designed, and can be executed faster. That is what both academia and industry want: to get innovations to the patient as fast as possible.
We have excellent scientists working within the I&I strategic program. The private sector is eager to collaborate with them, especially if one has the operational systems in place. I therefore see U-TRIAL as an important hub for external partners. They will realize that if they do business with UMC Utrecht, it is best, most efficient and fastest through U-TRIAL. That is what we want to convey as U-TRIAL.
We have a wealth of scientific knowledge and expertise on which the private sector can build. We are efficient and fast. We have perfection in execution, where realism and openness with the private sector are seen as important building blocks. This is a fruitful ecosystem for both parties to work in.”
You ask, and we deliver what we promise. I want to further strengthen and expand ties with these private parties. It's great to bring together our strengths within UMC Utrecht and the strengths of our partners in an optimal way to make a significant contribution to improving patient care”, Peter Hermans concludes.
U-TRIAL we Connect
To bring innovations to the patient faster, groundbreaking clinical trials are of great importance. U-TRIAL is UMC Utrecht's knowledge and expertise center for both established Principal Investigators (PIs) and young research talent as well as external stakeholders such as CROs, pharma, and medical devices and diagnostics companies. U-TRIAL is committed to strengthening the clinical trial climate within UMC Utrecht.
For more information, please contact Peter Hermans: p.w.m.hermans-5@umcutrecht.nl (please put U-TRIAL@umcutrecht.nl in cc). More about U-TRIAL, click here.