Groundbreaking and important work

is being done in Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, by its own residents and local professionals.

Most medications used in the treatment of heart disease, that have been developed over the past three decades, have passed through the Twin Cities on the way to becoming approved for use in the treatment of the general population. This is a statistic that will continue for at least the next decade according to Dr. Robert Weiss, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, the Director of Maine Research Associates located at Two Great Falls Plaza in Auburn, Maine. Maine Research Associates is the largest independent cardiovascular research site in New England, and has been connecting people with treatments of the future for over 25 years. To date, the research center has completed more than 500 clinical pharmaceutical trials.

Today, more than 30 studies involving over 250 participants are in progress, and the team at Maine Research Associates continues to work with patients and primary care physicians to enroll patients in new studies that advance treatment and that provide hope. Some of the current studies will continue for years into the future. Many are designed to prevent a heart attack before it ever happens.

The practice has achieved an international reputation for reliable, pioneering research, along with a superior level of patient care. With the ability to deliver accurate data to the pharmaceutical industry, the work being done locally has global impact for

the advancement of health and wellness. It’s no longer a best kept secret that Maine Research Associates is a hidden gem in its home community.

Local area residents have the opportunity to participate in the research, often while being paid, and always while receiving comprehensive healthcare oversight at no cost to the patient. While Maine Research Associates is affiliated with Androscoggin Cardiology Associates, participants need not be patients of the cardiology practice to be candidates for the research. The Research Center is served by a separate, full-time staff of 11 professionals including nurses and healthcare assistants.

“It’s important to us to have a group of nice patients participating in our studies,” explained Robert Weiss, MD, who is the director of research as well as medical director of the group. “Patients develop a close camaraderie with the staff. It’s a much more personal relationship than at big-city clinics; it’s a collaborative process. Patients may have an opportunity to benefit from leading-edge medications that aren’t even on the market yet, and all patients contribute directly to the effort to bring science to the art of helping patients improve their health.”

Participation in a clinical trial presents minimal risk to the patient. Weiss explained, “We test new medications that might be improvements beyond what people currently have available to them, and we also test new treatment methods. The health history and current medications of people who join the studies serve as a baseline, and the research might help improve their conditions.” Weiss is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He has participated as a Principal Investigator in more than 500 trials in nearly 30 years. In addition, Weiss is the Associate Editor of Evidence-Based Medicine and acts as a reviewer several prominent medical publications.

The center is currently conducting studies involving new cholesterol lowering medicines, new blood pressure medicines, new heart imaging agents, new blood thinners, and, new treatments for atrial fibrillation. Previous studies have also included drugs for weight loss, for the treatment of various aspects of diabetes, hypertension, and peripheral artery/vascular disease, arthritis and pain control. Study sponsors have included such familiar names as Bayer, Takeda, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Schering-Plough Research Institute, among many others.

Virtually any drug to be used in the treatment of cardio-vascular diseases in the next decade is already under study by Maine Research Associates, which is allied with a network of similar centers geographically dispersed around the country but collected under the banner of Alliance for Multispecialty Research.

“Our research isn’t limited to drug studies,” Weiss said. “We also work on studies designed by the National Institutes of Health to help evaluate new treatment protocols and pathways. Some studies look at reducing the overall cost of health care while maintaining effective treatment. One example is a study looking at how to diagnose patients with chest pain. We are studying CAT scan protocol and Stress Test protocol to determine if the additional cost of a CAT scan is producing better or more accurate results versus the less costly stress test. We will help define new ‘pathways of care,’ that provide the basis for new standards of treatment.”

One new medication under study is a cholesterol-lowering vaccine that could potentially supplement or replace more familiar pills. Another example of a study subject are medicines that treat diabetes and also cause weight loss.

“We welcome new participants into our studies,” Weiss said. “With so many projects underway at once, investigating so many health conditions and opportunities, we are always trying to

identify new candidates who might be interested in participating, who might benefit from participating.”

Research usually involves periodic blood and lab tests and other routine healthcare monitoring under the supervision of a dedicated staff.

“Our study participants are provided free healthcare screening and monitoring while they’re in the study,” Dr. Weiss explained, “and often it is more comprehensive than what they may be getting on their own.” In addition, those participating in clinical trials are helping advance the practice of medicine, helping provide new treatments for people with life-threatening conditions or diseases, and potentially availing themselves of some of those same medications and treatment protocols. And they are often paid a stipend for their time as well.

“We are proud of the work we have done over the years. We are proud of our community, and the role it has played on the world stage in the field of developing leading edge medical treatment,” said Weiss. “We have a great, compassionate staff who love working with patients, and, of course, we are especially proud of all the people from the Androscoggin County area who have contributed so much to the advancement of medical knowledge and a better quality of life for millions, worldwide, over the years.”

Anyone who might like to join in a study, please contact Jessica Gamache at 782-9835, to see if you qualify to participate. Referring physicians can also contact the office.

Weiss added, “This is exciting work, and

we are happy to be able to do it right here in this community.”

Maine Research Associates

2 Great Falls Plaza, Auburn, ME

782-9835

www.maineresearchassociates.com

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