Research

Collaborative activities between clinical and basic science departments and the consequent interactions between laboratory investigators and clinicians are an important focus of this program. The Center provides the impetus and supportive infrastructure for interested parties within the institution to pursue research opportunities relating to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the various conditions that affect the prostate.

An important aspect of this endeavor is translational research—scientific research performed in the laboratory that can have direct impact on the practice of clinical medicine. For example, the exploration of gene therapy, in an ongoing collaboration with the Department of Gene and Cell Medicine, has resulted in clinical trials using cytotoxic genes and cytokines to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Support to promote further institutional interest involves the Prostate Working Group, which is made up of clinicians and basic scientists within Mount Sinai who are involved in various aspects of prostate research. Monthly discussions and seminars further stimulate interests of the Group and attract other investigators from within and outside the institution. A consequence of the Working Group has been the establishment of a prospective tissue bank, which harvests and stores prostate and blood samples for future research purposes.

The Center serves as a catalyst to link scientists and clinicians with mutual interests in prostate disease and provide the resources to ensure that collaborative work moves forward.

Support by the Prostate Health and Research Center for translational and clinical research goes beyond Mount Sinai-investigator-initiated research to involve interactions with industry and cooperative research groups so that a broad range of new diagnostic tests and therapies are available to patients. Integral to the success of implementing and participating in large clinical trials is the provision of the infrastructure necessary to coordinate the education and participation of patients and their families during the process of clinical trials. To this end the Prostate Health and Research Center provides a data manager, a study coordinator, and a physician assistant to support patients involved in clinical trials. With close collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and the basic infrastructure provided, the Prostate Health and Research Center ensures that patients have access to the newest developments in diagnosis and therapy.