NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact:  Jan Williams, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228

U of M College of Veterinary Medicine Announces New Collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health

MINNEAPOLIS/ ST. PAUL (November 3, 2006) – The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Investigation Center (CIC) has entered into a scientific collaboration with Pfizer Animal Health.  This agreement, called the “Pfizer Animal Health Funded Component of the Clinical Investigation Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine,” represents a paradigm shift in the way the College of Veterinary Medicine partners with industry.  The relationship provides the opportunity to join the intellectual resources of industry and the expertise of academia in a host of areas.  The relationship provides the opportunity to:

·         Expand clinical research in the College of Veterinary Medicine;

·         Share the college’s expertise with Pfizer scientists, connecting drug development with diagnosis and treatment of companion animal disease;

·         Clinically evaluate Pfizer’s products; and

·         Take basic research to the patients (dogs and cats).

The goal of this new collaboration is to complete up to three clinical trials per year over a five-year period.  These studies will utilize the Veterinary Medical Center’s caseload of more than 45,000 per year.  This relationship will offer opportunities to evaluate new therapies in many of the specialty areas within the Veterinary Medical Center-- e.g., dentistry, dermatology, orthopedics, pain management, neurology. 

The Veterinary Medical Center and animal facilities in the College of Veterinary Medicine are AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) and AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) accredited, which assures that the facilities and personnel meet the required high standards of animal care and welfare.  All clinical trials conducted in the Veterinary Medical Center must be approved by the University of Minnesota, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) which assures the quality of the proposed study. 

Features of the agreement include:

·         Joint management committee representing both the CIC and Pfizer Animal Health.  Responsibilities include communicating on issues affecting the CIC collaboration and study protocols.  They will also monitor progress of ongoing studies and discuss opportunities for future studies. 

·         Funding for support positions, supplies, and space dedicated to the collaboration. 

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is one of only two national programs that were chosen by Pfizer to participate in this collaborative research relationship.  A third location has since been established in the United Kingdom.

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The College of Veterinary Medicine improves the health and well-being of animals and people by providing high-quality veterinary training, conducting leading-edge research, and delivering innovative veterinary services.