Jefferson to be Home of a Roche Molecular Center of Excellence
Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital
will be home to more leading-edge molecular research, thanks to an alliance with
Roche Diagnostics.
The department of Pathology, Anatomy and
Cell Biology has signed an agreement with Roche to become a Roche Molecular
Center of Excellence, which affords new opportunities for translational research
and clinical trials at Jefferson. This collaboration will bring new diagnostic
tests and leading-edge technology to the clinical programs at Jefferson,
according to Stephen Peiper, M.D., chairman of the department of Pathology,
Anatomy and Cell Biology.
Dr. Peiper will serve as the Director of
the Roche Molecular Center of Excellence at Jefferson. The primary focus of the
research will be microbiology and infectious diseases, with a focus on
hospital-acquired infections and oncology.
“The relationship with Roche will open
the doors for funding opportunities and put Jefferson at the front-line for
evaluating molecular genetic tools,” Dr. Peiper said. “Roche has been actively
acquiring companies that develop state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic tools.
Our collaboration will help bring these tools to the clinical arena sooner.”
According to Donald Jungkind, Ph.D.,
director of the Clinical Microbiology Lab at Jefferson, one of the benefits of
this alliance is the opportunity for networking between other Roche Molecular
Centers of Excellence. Members from the various centers meet regularly to
promote the exchange of ideas, Dr. Jungkind said.
Dr. Jungkind and Zoe Wang, Ph.D.,
assistant director of the Clinical Microbiology Lab at Jefferson, will serve as
co-directors of the Roche Molecular Center of Excellence.
“It is really an honor to be selected for
the public recognition and the opportunities that being a Roche Molecular Center
of Excellence brings,” Jungkind said. “The innovative research will allow us
refine molecular technology so that the most useful forms reach the public.”
Media Only Contact:
Emily Shafer
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 4/15/2009