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The Leonard Wood Memorial (LWM) is
a non-profit research center for leprosy and other
biomedical research located in Cebu City, The Philippines.
Administrative offices are located in the US.
The LWM has extensive experience in
conducting clinical and laboratory based research to include
evaluation of drugs, vaccines and other therapeutic
modalities proposed for treatment of leprosy, tuberculosis,
and other infectious and non-infectious diseases.
The LWM is a unique
multi-disciplinary biomedical research facility, consisting
of 3 major branches:
- The Clinical Research Branch,
located on the LWM campus just outside Cebu City,
provides medical consultation and treatment services to
patients and conducts good clinical practices (GCP) -
compliant clinical trials to evaluate new drugs, drug
regimens, and vaccines.
- The Skin Clinic and
Epidemiology Branch, located in downtown Cebu City with a
population of over 1 million people, provides no-fee
dermatology diagnostic and treatment services for a large
number of outpatients and conducts GCP-compliant clinical
trials that primarily focus on leprosy and other skin
diseases such as psoriasis. An eye clinic and
rehabilitation unit are located in the same building.
- The Laboratory Branch, located
on the LWM campus, is a well equipped facility with
molecular biology, histopathology, clinical chemistry,
hematology, microbiology and immunology units,
administrative offices and a library.
Staffing
- Epidemiologists highly trained
in conducting field studies
- Physician-scientists with
experience in conducting studies according to stringent
good clinical practices (GCP) guidelines
- Laboratory scientists with
experience in immunology, histopathology, microbiology,
and molecular biology to support protocols
Philippine Scientific Staff
Skin
Clinic/Epidemiology Branch
Roland V. Cellona, MD,
DPH, Assistant Director and Branch Chief
Maria V. Felicio-Balagon, MD, Assistant Chief
Clinical Research Branch
Laarni S.
Guido-Villahermosa, MD, Chief
Tranquilino T. Fajardo, MD, MPH, Senior Consultant
Laboratory Branch
Esterlina G.
Virtudes-Tan, MD, Chief
Rodolfo M. Abalos, MD, Chief, Pathology Unit
Guillerma L. Lim, MSCT, Chief of Administrative
Services
Vivarium
Eduardo C. dela Cruz,
DVM, Chief
Consultants
Jesus Ravanes, MD,
Ophthalmology
L. James Young, Jr, MD, Pulmonology
Major research programs and capabilities
- Leprosy
- Tuberculosis
- Psoriasis and other skin
diseases
- Phase I/II/III clinical
trials (drugs and vaccines)
- Epidemiology
Scientific Collaborators
- Corporate
- Academic
- Government
- Local Hospitals and Medical
Schools
Designated as a World
Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and
Training
LWM, recognized as a leading
research institute, has trained hundreds of scientists,
physicians and medical students from many parts of the world
Major research objectives
Eradication or improved control of
leprosy and other infectious and non-infectious diseases through assessment of
new drugs, drug regimens, early diagnosis kits, vaccines or
other immuno-modulatory compounds for mycobacterial diseases
(includes leprosy and tuberculosis)
LWM assets
- Strong international
collaborations result in a level of sophistication
uncommon in biomedical research centers in developing
countries
- Far lower costs to conduct
research than in developed countries
- Well-established, respected
presence in community permits:
- expedited protocol review
and approval
- rapid volunteer recruitment
for clinical studies
- ready access to local
hospitals and clinics
- Highly experienced professional
and technical staff with proven record
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