As one of the world's largest gene therapy investigative facilities, the Mary Crowley Medical Research Center's mission is to explore investigational gene and cellular therapies in order to develop future options for cancer patients. Highly trained personnel provide support for Phase I and II clinical trial protocols, using innovative technologies and meeting all FDA guidelines.
The purpose of these trials is to characterize the mechanism of action, activity and safety of gene and cellular therapies. The Mary Crowley medical research center has treated more than 2000 patients on research protocols, and its physicians have published over 240 research papers in the last 10 years.
Mary Crowley Medical Research Center is located within the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The facility includes a full-service clinic with patient rooms, infusion chairs, treatment and procedure rooms, and a recovery area devoted to patient comfort and well being. As an NIH qualified site for Biosafety level II treatment criteria, it is dedicated to exploring innovative investigational methods.
The center offers eligible patients the opportunity to participate in investigational clinical trial protocols using genomic technology, which include the following special projects:
- Treatment that targets abnormal oncogenes.
- Treatment to enhance the genes responsible for inducing apoptosis (cancer cell deaths).
- Treatment to enhance antitumor immunity against cancer.
- Treatment that targets EGF receptor inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, tumor receptors, polyamine, and other novel pathways.
Immune Function Laboratory: The Mary Crowley Medical Research Center conducts trials that focus specifically on exploring the possibility of modulating immune function after chemotherapy to enhance the patient's overall antitumor immune activity. The MCMRC Immune Function Lab provides in-depth lab expertise for these clinical trials using a wide array of molecular techniques, including flow cytometric analysis, PCR, RT-PCR, Western Blot, and immunohistochemistry.
Molecular/Cell Processing Laboratory: Highly trained scientists provide molecular cell processing support for early phase clinical protocols and specialized cell therapy projects including gene therapy, dendritic cell therapy, tumor vaccines, cell processing systems development, and transplantation. Laboratory services include gene transduction and transfection, stem cell selection, cell line development, bone marrow processing apheresis, donor lymphocyte infusions, and positive/negative cell selection.
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