Pulse: A Message from Dean Joel A. Kaplan

Shortly before I arrived at the University of Louisville in 1998, President John Shumaker issued the "Challenge for Excellence" document, which stated that within 10 years "we shall strive to become a preeminent metropolitan research university nationally recognized for our success in advancing the intellectual, social, and economic development of our community and its citizens."

This blueprint contained many far-reaching goals for UofL and several very important ones for the School of Medicine that required large investments in personnel, research facilities and new programs.

The excitement to me was that the resources were available from the Commonwealth through the new Research Challenge Trust Fund (or "Bucks for Brains" program), the university, the School of Medicine's great clinical partners, and our generous donors and loyal alumni to make it all possible.

As a result, in a few short and exciting years, the entire Louisville Medical Center (LMC) has become a new place. We have recruited outstanding clinical scientists like those featured in these pages, adding their skills to those of our excellent clinicians and educators.

We also have witnessed international medical firsts, attracted record levels of research funding at the university, opened and planned new research buildings, attracted and developed new biotechnology and information sciences companies, and significantly contributed back to the economy of Kentucky.

Many of the goals of the president's challenge have been exceeded years ahead of 2008 due to the success of the School of Medicine, and he recently set the University's sights even higher.

For example, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which groups institutions according to the nature of degrees they offer and the level of research they conduct, issued a new classification in August 2000 listing UofL among the 3.8 percent of universities categorized as "Doctoral/Research-Extensive."

Furthermore, our federal research funding has surged to near the 2008 goal of $40 million, and, thus, our goal has been revised to more than $100 million; and we have funded 75 endowed chairs and professorships, which has led to an increased target of 125 by 2008.

The president also has put four of the School of Medicine's areas of excellence on his list of internationally recognized programs, including transplant immunology, molecular cardiology (ischemic heart disease), cardiac assist devices, and hand and microsurgery. Soon several of our other excellent programs will join this distinguished group.

The highest goal and greatest challenge for the School of Medicine in the Challenge for Excellence is to become a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Soon after I arrived in Louisville, I realized how high the bar had been set since there were only 41 NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country.

The James Graham Brown Cancer Center had not achieved the goals of its founders and needed dynamic leadership by a clinical scholar who could pull together the diverse cancer entities at the LMC to form an integrated adult oncology program. After meeting Don Miller, M.D., Ph.D., I knew I'd found the right person.

Subsequently, he has accomplished far more than I hoped for, and we are ahead of schedule with a planning grant being submitted to the NCI in 2002.

Dr. Miller's unique background and expertise in biochemistry, genetics and oncology have led to a translational research program based on structural biology, molecular modeling and new drug design.

The structural biology program is to be based in a new expansion of the Brown Cancer Center called the Molecular Imaging Research Center. This clinical and research facility will house PET/CT scanners, two cyclotrons, and NMR systems and will involve unique partnerships with industry to develop new radiopharmaceuticals for clinical trials. Additionally, a Biomedical and Technology Research Incubator will house new companies developed from the Brown Cancer Center.

Recently, Dr. Miller and colleagues established Aptamera Inc., their first company in Louisville, which will specialize in the development of unique diagnostic and treatment technologies for cancer-related diseases.

Future clinical trials with new drugs will take place in the new General Clinical Research Center that Craig McClain, M.D., is setting up at University Hospital and other clinical oncology facilities in the region.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Cancer Outreach and Prevention programs continue to grow, with an emphasis on early detection of lung cancer using CT scans and biomarkers. Due to the high incidences of multiple types of cancer in the Ohio Valley, there is no shortage of patients who are receiving the latest and best in clinical care at the Louisville Medical Center.

Dr. Miller and his clinical colleagues are seeing increasing numbers of complex cases referred to the School of Medicine from around the region and nation. The only thing needed now to become a world-class cancer center is our own cancer hospital.

Stay tuned: It could happen soon!

Joel A. Kaplan, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs
and Dean, School of Medicine