February 16, 2007
TO: Robert Mrtek, Chair
Senate Committee on Educational Policy
FROM: Margaret Grosch
Director, Programs and Academic Assessment
I am submitting for review and action by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy the attached Proposal to Establish the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research (CPR). The Center was granted temporary approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 2001, and the College of Pharmacy is now seeking permanent approval.
The proposal was approved by the College of Pharmacy Executive Committee on August 15, 2006 and carries the endorsement of the Interim Dean. Also, it was approved by the Graduate College Executive Committee on February 16, 2007.
Attachment
Cc: R. Betts
J. Bauman
G. Schumock
Internal Approval Routing Form
August, 2006
Title of Program/Center: Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research (CPR)
1. Review and Approval by Department X Date: 8-15-06
2. Review and Approval by College X Date: 8-15-06
3. Analysis of Needed Resources by Academic Affairs: Adequacy, X Date: 2-7-07
Appropriateness, Availability
4. If Program is Graduate, Review by Graduate College Executive Committee X Date: 2-16-07
5. Review by Senate Committee on Educational Policy □ Date:_______
6. Final Review by Academic Affairs for Academic and Fiscal Soundness □ Date:_______
Comments:
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL, RESEARCH OR PUBLIC SERVICE UNIT
BACKGROUND
1. Name of Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy
2. Title of Proposed Unit: Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research (CPR)
3. CIP Code (6-digits): 60.5120
4. Date: The Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research received temporary approval from the IBHE on November 28, 2001. The Center was initiated on January 1, 2002. This request is for permanent approval.
5. Contact Person: Dr. Charles Evans
5.1. Telephone: 217-333-3079
5.2. E-mail:
5.3. Fax: 217-244-5763
PURPOSE: OBJECTIVES, MISSION AND PRIORITIES
6. Unit Objectives and Contributions
6.1. What are the goals and objectives of the unit? The mission of the CPR is to promote and facilitate advancement in understanding the clinical, humanistic, and economic impact of pharmaceutical products, contemporary pharmacy services, and medication use policy with respect to the health and safety of patients, organizations, and society. The primary goals of the Center are to 1) conduct research on the costs and consequences (clinical, humanistic, or economic) of the therapeutic use of drugs, of pharmacy and health care services, and of medication use policy; and 2) to publish and disseminate research findings so as to advance knowledge and facilitate the health of patients, organizations, and society. The CPR also seeks to promote the advancement of pharmacoeconomics by training future scientists via post-doctoral research fellowships, and by conducting seminars and symposia.
- Conduct Research
The primary goal of the CPR is to conduct research in pharmacoeconomics and pharmaceutical outcomes. Research conducted by the Center is funded by a variety of sources, including pharmaceutical manufacturers in Illinois and elsewhere, private research foundations, and by government agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and others. During the first five years of its existence the CPR generated $4,075,040.00 in external research funding.
In August 2005 the CPR was formally recognized for the quality of its research when it became one of 13 centers nationally funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) under the “Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness” (DEcIDE) Research Network. Other DEcIDE centers in this network include Harvard University, John Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and others (See Website: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/decide/decideList.cfm). Designation as a center under this network is extremely noteworthy and has brought significant attention to the College of Pharmacy and UIC. This group of centers was formed to assist the Federal Government in evaluating the new Medicare Part D drug benefit. The mandate for such evaluation was included in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. The CPR has a 5-year contract with AHRQ (through 2010). Because on-going evaluation of the Medicare Part D benefit is written into the legislation, it is likely that funding for these centers will continue well beyond 2010.
- Disseminate New Knowledge
While conducting research and generating new knowledge are important, for such information to inform public policy and impact society it must be disseminated. The CPR disseminates its research findings in scholarly publications and presentations at scientific meetings. In the five years since its formation, faculty of the CPR have published 106 articles in medical and related journals and have presented 120 papers at national and international meetings.
- Train Future Researchers
By virtue of its position as a leading research center, the CPR seeks to promote the advancement of research in pharmacoeconomics by providing post-doctoral research training experiences. Research fellows of the Center must have already completed a PharmD or PhD degree. The training program is 2 years in length and designed to produce researchers who will assume pharmacoeconomic research positions in academia, pharmaceutical industry, or managed care. The program follows the standards set forth by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (see Website http://www.accp.com/resandfel/?page=guidelines). Funding for these fellowships has been provided by Illinois-based pharmaceutical companies (Searle, Pharmacia, TAP, Novonordisk) and by Walgreens Health Initiatives (Deerfield, IL). In the past 5 years the CPR has trained 10 fellows (including 3 currently in the program) who have all gone on to prestigious positions.
6.2. What is the relationship of the unit to the University’s mission and priorities? Is the unit involved in instruction and, if so, to what extent? The CPR is a “flagship” Center for both the College of Pharmacy and UIC, and as such is of great strategic value to the UIC College of pharmacy. The objectives of the CPR are supportive of the mission and priorities of the College of Pharmacy and of the University of Illinois at Chicago – particularly with regard to the research mission of the College.
- To create knowledge that transforms our views of the world and, through sharing and application, transforms the world.
A core objective of the CPR is to generate new knowledge through research in the emerging field of pharmacoeconomics. This objective is supportive of the UIC mission to “create knowledge that transforms our views of the world and, through sharing and application, transforms the world.” Though we would not assert that our work has transformed the world, it has certainly contributed to a better understanding of the costs and benefits of medications, and of medication-related policies and services. Further, we believe there is evidence that our work has impacted the way health care is provided in Illinois, the US, and elsewhere in the world.
- To provide a wide range of students with the educational opportunity only a leading research university can offer.
The Center does not have direct responsibility for instruction of undergraduate or graduate students. However, the CPR is involved in the training of research fellows. Further, by attracting top-notch scientists, the CPR helps the College of Pharmacy achieve its educational mission. As a result, there are educational opportunities in pharmacoeconomics available to students at UIC that do not exist at any other university in the state of Illinois. In fact, such opportunities exist only in a limited number of universities in the US or elsewhere in the world.
6.3. What specific needs and measurable contributions will/has the unit make/made to statewide priorities and needs? Finding cost efficient ways to provide health care to the citizens of Illinois is a priority for both the State Government and the UIC Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research. Pharmaceutical expenditures comprise a significant portion of the budget of the Illinois Medicaid program and have been a priority for the current administration. The research conducted by the UIC CPR may provide solutions to the problems faced by Illinois in this regard. The Center has worked directly with the staff of the Governor’s office and of the Medicaid program to explore such opportunities and the College of Pharmacy is currently implementing an agreement to provide services to the Medicaid program. Moreover, recently the Center hosted a national conference, sponsored by the Federal government, to examine state and nationwide issues related to the rising cost of prescription drugs (See website of the conference at (See Website: http://www.uic.edu/pharmacy/research/cpr/prescription_expenditures/).
As mentioned above, the Center is currently one of 13 centers designed by the Federal Government to assist the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in evaluating the prescription drug benefit now available to Medicare enrollees. The CPR has contributed effectively to this effort. In the first year of this program the UIC CPR secured more projects that any other Center in the Network and also produced the first publication from the program. As a result the CPR was select as one of 7 Centers given supplementary funding under a special work assignment task order.
The activities of the CPR can also be examined from the standpoint of the IBHE Illinois Commitment. Policy area number one of the Illinois Commitment is that higher education will help Illinois sustain strong economic growth through its teaching, service, and research activities. The CPR has identified specific measurable objectives in the areas of research. These objectives, along with the performance of the Center over the past five years are described in section 8.1 of this document.
6.4 What is the demand for the unit’s services? What clients or population will/has the unit served? Evidence of the level of interest in the high cost of drugs and their impact on other health expenses has appeared in the lay press and primetime television where news stories on rising prescription drug costs are commonplace. Though usually referred to by other terms, pharmacoeconomics is also a major topic of discussion in Washington D.C., as the US Congress and the Bush Administration struggle with the rising cost of drugs and with the new Medicare program that provides prescription drug coverage to seniors (Medicare Part D). Despite the national level of interest and importance of this topic, pharmacoeconomics has only recently been adopted into the curriculum of US schools of pharmacy, and is virtually non-existent in the education of other health care professionals (physicians, nurses). As a consequence, there are relatively few researchers who specialize in pharmacoeconomics. Thus, there exists a significant gap between the demand for the conduct of research in the field and the availability of researchers to do this work.
Because of this demand, academic institutions that have developed programs (e.g., pharmacoeconomic research centers or institutes) have found ample opportunities for work. Since November 2001, when it was approved for temporary status by the IBHE, the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Pharmacoeconomics has rapidly ascended to the top of such centers. While there are no formal comparisons available of these programs, anecdotal evidence suggests that the UIC program is in the top five in the nation in terms of total funding, publications, and reputation. Being selected by the Federal Government as one of 13 DEcIDE Network Centers in the country is further evidence of the reputation and stature that the Center has gained.
Clients/sponsors of the research activities of the Center include local and national pharmaceutical companies (including Illinois-based companies such as Abbott Laboratories, TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc, and Takeda), local and national pharmacy provider organizations (e.g., Walgreens Corporation, Deerfield, IL), local and national health care provider organizations (including individual hospitals and groups of hospitals such as Consorta Inc. in Schaumburg, IL), local and national health care payer organizations (i.e., insurance companies or managed care organizations), and state and federal government agencies. The CPR has recently been awarded several large grants by the US Department of Health and Human Services (NIH, and AHRQ). Such grants are a testament to the reputation that the Center has gained.
Organization
7. Organization
7.1 Describe the unit’s organizational structure. The UIC Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research resides in the College of Pharmacy. A Memoradum of Understanding, signed by the Dean for the College of Pharmacy and by the Heads of the Departments of Pharmacy Practice and of Pharmacy Administration affirms the lasting support of the College for the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research, including the commitment of resources. The organizational structure (shown in Figure 1) and operations of the Center are further defined in a set of bylaws.
Figure 1. Organizational Structure, Center for Pharmacoeconomic Research
Administratively, the Director (G. Schumock) of the CPR reports to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy (J. Bauman, Interim). The Director of the CPR is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the CPR. The Director receives input on Center activities not only from the faculty of the CPR, but also from the Executive Committee. The Executive committee is comprised of the heads of the Department of Pharmacy Practice (K. Rodvold, Interim) and of the Department of Pharmacy Administration (N. Popovich), along with one faculty member from each department (S. Walton, G. Schumock). The Executive Committee is responsible for strategic planning and strategic decision-making.
The Director is responsible for oversight and decision-making related to the day-to-day activities of the CPR. The Director is responsible for all aspects of the CPR budget, facilities, and for personnel within the CPR. The Director coordinates the meetings of the CPR Committees and ensures proper reporting with the College of Pharmacy and UIC. The Director also receives input from an external advisory committee. Because the CPR is affiliated with the UIC Institute for Health Research and Policy, the CPR currently uses the IHRP External Advisory Committee to fill this function.
Reporting to the Director for the CPR are the Assistant Director (S. Pickard) and a Program Coordinator (K. Clarke). The Assistant Director is a full-time faculty member in the Center who spends a portion of his time in administrative duties related to the CPR. Accordingly, a portion of the Assistant Director’s salary is paid by the Center as a stipend for performing these duties. Among the duties of the Assistant Director is the coordination of the fellowship training program and of the Center’s seminar series. The Program Coordinator is a full-time position. This individual is responsible of the tracking of research funding and coordination of pre and post award activities, and for administrative support.
The core faculty members of the Center all hold tenure track, research-intensive positions, and each works collaboratively with the Director for Center-related activities. Faculty salaries are paid by their home department (Department of Pharmacy Practice or Department of Pharmacy Administration), and thus they primarily report to the respective Department Heads. Affiliate (adjunct) faculty members are researchers from within UIC or at other academic institutions that work with the Center but not on a full-time basis. Core and affiliate faculty are listed in the Appendix Section I.