Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/356141
t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 2 t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 PrESIdENT'S PErSPECTIvE TMC | PULSE Vol. 36 No. 10 August 2014 Robert C. Robbins, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer Amanda D. Stein Editor astein@texasmedicalcenter.org Alex Orlando Staff Writer aorlando@texasmedicalcenter.org L. Morgan Farrar Business Strategist Ben W. Howard Graphic Designer Contributing Photographers Scott Dalton Michael Stravato Terry Vine Photography nEwsrooM 713-791-8812 news@texasmedicalcenter.org AdvErtisinG 713-791-8894 newsads@texasmedicalcenter.org Texas Medical Center Pulse is a monthly publication of the Texas Medical Center, in Houston, Texas. Permission from the editor is required to reprint any material. Editorial/advertising information available on request. Texas Medical Center News is a member of: Houston Press Club, American Medical Writers Association, Association of Healthcare Journalists, and American Advertising Federation roBErt C. roBBins, M.d. President and Chief Executive Officer, Texas Medical Center L ooking back on the last several months, I am pleased with the progress that has been made in generating new ideas, and building upon longstanding ones, as our member institutions come together in support of our design teams. The synergy within the medical center is exciting, and we continue to find more compelling reasons to support the sharing of both phenotypic and genomic data across all of the TMC institutions. Data is central to the work of each of the teams—health policy, clinical trials, innovation, regenerative medicine and genomics—from developing a common IRB for clinical trials, to the creation of a TMC Biobank and Biorepository. All are important to the successful implementation of the TMC-wide strategic plan objectives, and all require collaboration and data sharing. There is exciting and substantial potential to leverage the power of information for the improved health of humanity. And I see no place more capable of amassing the sheer volume or diversity of game-changing data than the Texas Medical Center. By compiling and sharing clinical information—from patients of all races, male and female, old and young—new drugs can be developed, new medical devices built, and novel IT solutions implemented to improve health around the world. I look at the work being done through the Texas Medical Center Genetics (TexGen) project, founded by Drs. James Willerson and Eric Boerwinkle, as an outstanding example of the power of data sharing. Since 2001, TexGen has been amassing a database of genetic information, volunteered by patients, to help better understand the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke. And as a collaborative effort, the information is contributing to research across the medical center. By harnessing the power of information, there is tremendous potential for TMC researchers and physicians to help unlock the mysteries of disease and human health.