The Alliance for Biomedical Advances
Purpose and Mission
The Alliance for Biomedical Advances is a national project to enhance collaboration among the public and private research sectors, thereby improving the complex and demanding process of discovering and identifying biomedical research leads, taking these discoveries from the bench to the clinic, and ultimately delivering new medicines to patients. Baylor College of Medicine hosts this effort as a project of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center.
Coming at a time when cooperation between the public and private sectors has become increasingly challenging, the alliance provides a forum for productive dialogue between and among all members of the biomedical research community by:
- Addressing the most challenging issues affecting biomedical research
- Providing avenues for collective discussion and information-sharing
- Enhancing communications among all relevant constituencies
Vision
Although the United States leads the world in scientific advancements, the biomedical research community has reached a critical juncture. Even as the sequencing of the human genome and a wave of new technologies -- automation and robotics, bioinformatics, biomarkers, molecular targeting and nanotechnology -- are accelerating at an unprecedented rate, medical discovery is only possible if there is ongoing cooperation and collaboration among the public and private research sectors. Accordingly, the vision of the alliance is to improve and enhance the health and effectiveness of the entire U.S. biomedical research community by enhancing this collaboration among the research sectors.
Mission
The process of drug discovery is contingent upon the ongoing cooperation and the exchange of ideas and information between the public and private research sectors. In recent years, however, professional practices of researchers from both public and private groups have contributed to a growing divisiveness within this community.
In an attempt to reduce these barriers, The Alliance for Biomedical Advances establishes a forum where diverse members of the biomedical research community can come together to promote shared interests and seek solutions to address the issues that interfere with advancement of the biomedical research enterprise. The alliance does not represent the views of any one sector, but instead provides a transparent process for discussion, debate, information sharing and consensus-building among all relevant constituencies: academic researchers and government scientists; medical school administrators, faculty, and students; research and professional societies; biomedical journal editors, physicians, pharmacists; patient advocates, and members of industry.
Directed by the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center housed at Baylor College of Medicine, the alliance is supported by a grant from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and is guided by an advisory committee comprised of biomedical research experts from both the public and private sectors.
Specifically, the alliance will:
- Convene national experts to frame the debate.
The alliance will consult with independent authorities, in the subject areas of focus, to identify the critical dimensions and provide the context for discussion and debate. - Promote new insights that will lead to better understanding among biomedical research stakeholders and foster collaboration.
On a continuing basis, the alliance will use a range of information channels -- the Internet, position papers, and informal meetings -- to promote information-sharing and consensus-building among all constituencies.
Through these means, the alliance hopes to promote better relationships within and across the public and private sectors that will contribute to the translation of research into safe and effective medicines for patients who need them.