Pharmaceutical giant Bayer is in a collaboration for research with Henry Ford Health based out of Detroit to enhance availability of patients to cutting-edge clinical trials. This collaboration leverages Bayer’s global clinical trial infrastructure along with Henry Ford’s vast research networks.
Under the agreement, Henry Ford Health joins an exclusive group of just four U.S. academic health systems selected for Bayer’s strategic research framework.
“Clinical trials are often the first opportunity patients have to access cutting-edge treatments,” said Dr. David Lanfear, Chief Scientific Officer for Henry Ford Health. “Through this collaboration, we aim to make clinical research more accessible, reduce barriers to participation, accelerate the development of new treatments and ensure that more patients have the opportunity to benefit from medical innovation.”
Targeted Therapeutic Areas and Advanced Research Collaboration
At the outset, there are a few key therapy areas that will be the focus of the collaboration:
- Cardiovascular & Renal Disorders – Treatment of disorders such as thrombosis, heart failure, stroke and chronic kidney disease.
- Oncology – Conducting research in targeted therapies and hard to treat cancers.
- Women’s Health – Novel therapies for menopause-related issues and gynecological problems.
Besides regular clinical trials, both organizations will utilize data-oriented approaches and the latest technology in designing clinical trials and identifying patients. Key areas of focus will be application of artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic health records (EHR) analytics, creation of real-world evidence (RWE), and provision of training in data science for health care.
“Bayer is consistently exploring new avenues that can help more patients with diseases or health conditions that impact millions of people across the world,” said Christoph Koenen, Head, Clinical Development & Operations for Bayer. “We share this commitment to patients and advancing drug discovery with likeminded institutions like Henry Ford Health that can help reduce barriers to accessing investigational or potential new treatments right in the very communities where patients are already receiving their care.”
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Expanding Regional Access to Global Drug Discovery
The agreement aligns with Bayer’s recent efforts to build a network of academic health alliances across the United States, following a similar collaboration established with the University of Colorado Anschutz, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado.
By integrating research protocols directly into Henry Ford Health’s care network—which includes Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences—the partnership aims to ensure clinical trials reflect the demographic diversity of the patient populations most impacted by these conditions.
“This partnership builds on Henry Ford Health‘s longstanding leadership in clinical research and creates new opportunities to bring innovative studies to our patients,” Lanfear said. “By combining our expertise with Bayer‘s global research capabilities, we can help advance treatments in areas that matter most while ensuring research reflects the needs of the diverse communities we serve.”
