Baylor Scott & White Research Institute

See Schedule OEstablished in 1984, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute (BSWRI) is responsible for the oversight and management of all translational, observational, and clinical research conducted throughout the Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) system. BSWRI expanded its operations in 2013 as part of the merger between Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System and Temple-based Scott & White Healthcare, which created BSWH the largest nonprofit health system in Texas. Today, BSWH has over 1,200 patient access points including 51 hospitals, 590 specialty care clinics, 254 outpatient clinics, 158 primary care clinics, 32 pharmacies, 30 ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 7,000 active physicians. The system also includes a state certified health maintenance organization, the Scott and White Health Plan and the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance accountable care organization both covering over 1,000,000 lives. BSWRI brings innovation to the forefront of medicine. From contributing to discoveries that help create new treatment options, to studying population health and other trends that improve quality of care, we pursue research focused on bringing patients greater value and addressing the health needs of the communities we serve. We are dedicated to advancing healthcare and ultimately, patient care, through the study and discovery of new preventive therapies and treatments for a broad spectrum of diseases and other chronic conditions. This means our efforts extend beyond microscopic studies; they bring innovation to the patient's bedside. We focus on understanding the base of a disease or condition, in order to then identify potential treatments or preventive therapies and enroll patients in research trials to further test and/or validate each theory. BSWRI is accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), which is a voluntary, peer-driven, and education-based model of accreditation.BSWRI is home to a rich network of 1,000 team members operating within two administrative offices, four clinical trials offices, and directly within various BSWH centers, hospitals and clinics. Research staff include principal investigators, contracts and finance specialists, compliance and regulatory specialists, research coordinators, nurses, managers, data analysts and lab assistants, among others. The group oversees research activities supporting nearly 1,800 trials in more than 50 specialty areas annually, including infectious disease, cardiology, gastroenterology, trauma, rehabilitation, neurology, oncology and radiation, orthopedics, pathology, radiology, transplant and surgery. Research conducted by and supported by our organization is regularly published in major scientific journals and reported at medical and scientific meetings. This work has also resulted in more than 700 issued and pending patents and trademark registrations spanning immunotherapy, genomics, biomarkers, metabolomics, metabolics, cardiovascular disease and medical devices. The following is a brief snapshot of activities led through BSWRI:Cardiovascular research: BSWRI holds a robust cardiovascular portfolio with study enrollment activities spanning multiple BSWH sites. Each year, we enroll and monitor hundreds of patients as part of major clinical trials examining therapeutic and surgical approaches and outcomes, new medications and new devices. Our cardiovascular research portfolio supports trials spanning: Atrial Fibrillation, Vascular/TAA conditions, Heart Failure Transplant, Heart Rhythm Disorders, Hypercholesterolemia, Aortic Valve Disorders, Cardiorenal Syndrome, Electrophysiology, Coronary Artery Disease, & Mitral Valve Disorders.Oncology research: BSWH treats a sizeable population with clinical care and research closely integrated into the options available to cancer patients. Our research teams support oncology trials at multiple sites. BSWRI conducts research aimed at advancing the knowledge around screenings, prevention, diagnostic, and treatment options. We run multiple trials across BSWH, including cutting-edge first-in-human CAR-T cell, dendritic vaccine, and Phase I, II and III studies for a broad number of malignancies. Applied health research: The Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR) is a collaborative, multidisciplinary research center that brings together clinicians, educators and researchers with expertise in areas such as health services research, administrative data extraction and reduction, derivation of care and outcome measures from archival medical records, community-based health research, statistical analysis, research mentoring, patient-centered safety, patient activation research and academic development of clinicians. CAHR efforts focus on the development and testing of innovations care models within healthcare and community settings, studying the impact of health programs on population health. Current CAHR programs include: 1) development and testing of innovative care models within health care and community settings, 2) impact of care delivery on the health and well-being of individuals and families, and 3) major projects designed to address the needs of aging populations and their caregivers. Our diverse research programs demonstrate collaborative efforts with various organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas A&M Health Science Center, national foundations and numerous health-oriented community-based organizations across Texas. Trauma and behavioral health research: BSWRI supports trauma and behavioral health research across multiple sites. Through the Trauma Research Consortium, our research efforts in addressing physical, mental and emotional trauma have been brought together under a single umbrella in order to enhance our ability to combine resources, inform best practices and further expand our ability to share our learnings out to others. One example of this work is found in the Warriors Research Institute (WRI). WRI's mission is to improve the quality of care available to military veterans and emergency responders via a program of scientific inquiry. Through BSWRI, WRI develops, evaluates, and disseminates information about treatment models for those suffering the sequelae of toxic or traumatic work events. In addition to providing and evaluating state-of-the-art experimental treatments, we train future generations of treatment providers in evolving evidence-based care. WRI leaders continue to foster WRI's growth beyond traditional research programs by also mentoring staff and volunteers, serving on multiple boards, committees, and panels, and consulting for the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI).Transplant research: Our research efforts around transplantation take place at multiple sites including Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple. This research continues to hit major milestones and research firsts. BSWRI supports multiple trials examining transplant procedures and post-op care, as well as addressing transplant waitlists and organ shortages. Our efforts in the specialty of abdominal transplant, as well as heart and lung transplants, continue to support efforts to improve outcomes, inform access to organs, and educate medical staff on best practices. These include an investigator-initiated studies examining issues such as the global burden of alcohol- associated liver disease and the impact of new acuity circle policies for liver allocation. This work also extends to studies examining new artificial heart technologies for individuals needing a heart transplant.COVID Research: BSWRI was at the forefront of activating COVID-19 research studies and clinical trial opportunities. BSWRI mobilized internal resources and researchers, as well as collaborators across biotech and pharma to activate clinical trials designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of experimental drugs that could aid in addressing symptoms of the virus. BSWRI was also one of the first healthcare organizations to launch research examining the impact of the pandemic, including lockdowns and other safety measures, on mental health. As the pandemic continued, BSWRI expanded their efforts to examine different administering options for monoclonal antibodies and other experimental treatment agents, including oral, intravenous, subcutaneous and inhaled therapeutic candidates. BSWRI also activated studies examining treatment acceptance and effectiveness by population, vaccine efficacy and surveillance, infection prevention in the healthcare environment, long-COVID recovery and rehabilitation therapies, and research on the impact of COVID-19 on treatment practices for individuals with other chronic or pre-existing health conditions.