Penn Medicine, Penn Eminence: Built on Participation and Innovation

June 2, 2009

In early April, the final beam for the Translational Research Center was signed by a wide circle of Penn Medicine citizens: leadership, patients, faculty -- and ironworkers from Local Union 401, sprinkler fitters from Local Union 692, and plumbers from Local Union 690.

At Penn, we are building new relationships -- and bold new paradigms -- in medicine.

      view webcam of construction site

Opening in 2010, the Center will be the first translational medical research building at Penn — and one of the first anywhere — that's physically integrated into facilities for patient care.

This means patients will have faster access to the most advanced treatment anywhere, while Penn's world-class faculty will have the space to expand their research on cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more.

It's all part of leading the rapidly growing field of translational medicine, which translates breakthroughs in basic research into advanced treatments for patients more quickly -- converting laboratory discoveries into real medical therapies. Penn Medicine's efforts to revolutionize translational research and to pioneer innovative clinical trials have positioned Penn at the forefront of bench-to-bedside medicine.

It's also an example of Penn’s interdisciplinary efforts to address some of the most pressing health issues facing society today. Arthur H. Rubenstein, dean of Penn's Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System, said, "This new research center makes possible an unprecedented level of focused scientific exchange among researchers, clinicians and educators from which will emerge important new medical knowledge and treatments."

 

Photos: [top] Construction workers from local unions sign the final steel beam of the Center. [bottom] Ralph W. Muller, CEO, UPHS and Peter Quinn, Vice-Dean for Professional Services/Senior Vice President, UPHS

 

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