Ascension Releases Inaugural Clinical Research Institute (ACRI) Report

Ascension today announced the release of its inaugural Ascension Clinical Research Institute (ACRI) Annual Report. Clinical research is pivotal to helping Ascension equitably advance the health and wellness of patients through discovery, continuous improvement and care transformation. The ACRI allows Ascension's ministry markets to offer the latest therapies and advancements in care.

"Our system-wide research enterprise is committed to pursuing discoveries that change the way we prevent disease, and diagnose and treat individuals," said Fred Masoudi, MD, MSPH, Chief Science Officer and Vice President, Clinical Research. "Our annual report showcases the incredible work our investigators, staff and research volunteers do everyday to deliver time-tested and proven interventions to help patients thrive and to promote health equity."

In FY24 alone, Ascension investigators participated in more than 3,000 active studies, more than 1,000 clinical trials and were featured in more than 680 scientific publications. ACRI investigators participate in clinical trials, implementation studies and health services research supported by government, foundations and industry sponsors. Clinicians across Ascension conduct hundreds of research studies on new treatments and care strategies.

"At Ascension, our patients are at the center of all we do," said Dr. Richard Fogel, Ascension Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. "In order for us to meet our patients' needs tomorrow, we must invest in advancing medicine today. This report shows the robust clinical research infrastructure that spans our care footprint to connect investigators across the country and support them as they provide the highest level of care to those we serve."

ACRI provides clinical research support and oversight to all sites engaged in research, including:

• A multi-site clinical trials coordination center
• A single, Ascension-wide Institutional Review Board
• Centralized research business and legal offices
• Therapeutic-area clinical research forums
• Clinical data analytics

With the development of the ACRI, Ascension is working to address long standing gaps in representation in its approach to clinical trials. ACRI trials closely mirror the demographics of our patient population. It also leverages its unified clinical trials management system to gain detailed insights into participant demographics across the organization. This helps identify areas needing improvement and implement targeted measures to enhance diversity.

Through this work, Ascension is advancing healthcare and upholding its Mission of providing equitable care to all.

Read the full report.