WNY patients can access COVID-19 clinical trials via UB CIGBS and Circuit Clinical partnership

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences (CIGBS) and clinical trial services provider Circuit Clinical have partnered to provide Western New York patients access to COVID-19 clinical research opportunities.

Circuit Clinical is the creator of a platform that helps patients take part in new medical advances, while choosing clinical research as a care option, and assists scientists with finding clinical trial participants. Through the new collaboration, patients in the region will gain access to innovative CIGBS clinical studies that investigate COVID-19 diagnostics, prevention and treatment.

“I am excited to partner with Circuit Clinical to improve prevention strategies and increase access opportunities for patients across the eight Western New York counties. This collaboration is a positive step towards advancing access to COVID-19 treatments locally,” said Gene Morse, PharmD, CIGBS director and SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Patients can find, choose and participate in clinical research through Circuit Clinical’s online platform, TrialJourney.

“Although we hope a vaccine is around the corner, commercial distribution and availability are significant obstacles,” said Irfan Khan, CEO and founder of Circuit Clinical. “We need all the tools we can get to protect Americans and safely reopen the economy.”

The CIGBS is an international hub that addresses global health challenges through pharmacological research, education and training, and drug and vaccine development. While the collaboration will begin with access to research occurring in Western New York, the organizations aim to expand offerings to include international CIGBS clinical research.

Morse is co-leader of the Western New York COVID-19 Research Collaborative, and a principal investigator on Fogarty International Center research capacity building grants with the University of Zimbabwe and the University of the West Indies, which are both affiliate centers to UB’s Global Virus Network Center of Excellence. The partnership between CIGBS and Circuit Clinical will add a new dimension to the clinical research capacity for COVID-19 studies at global partner locations, says Morse.