Dear colleagues,

As part of our continued commitment to advancing our shared mission to deliver exceptional health care, accelerate scientific discovery and support the academic and clinical excellence of our teams, we are taking important steps to strengthen and streamline our clinical research infrastructure.

University of Arizona and Banner Health launch joint Clinical Research Pilot 

We are pleased to share that, effective tomorrow, Nov. 14, the University of Arizona and Banner Health will jointly undertake a research pilot project to:

• Enhance research-related processes by evolving the support roles across both institutions so faculty members can more effectively engage in clinical research.
• Jointly support the launch of a new first-in-human, non-federally sponsored clinical trials program at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.
• Significantly reduce the time from clinical trial proposal to first-subject-enrolled for non-federally sponsored clinical trials at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, College of Medicine – Tucson and the University of Arizona Cancer Center. 

Investigators should continue to follow the existing clinical trials contracting process, including submitting all required materials through the Research Administration Portal (requires NetID). Importantly, this pilot will not change the support or resources dedicated to non-pilot trials.

Clinical research is not only a core component of our academic and clinical missions; it’s a hallmark of our enduring partnership and shared vision for the future. This transition will help us build a unified, world-class research enterprise that supports our teams, enhances collaboration and accelerates the translation of groundbreaking science into patient care.

We recognize and deeply value the expertise and dedication that our research teams bring to this work, which is why our teams are working to further enable your success. By bringing greater alignment and support to our research operations, we’ll continue to:

• Attract and retain top talent who are drawn to a strong, well-supported research environment.
• Explore new breakthroughs in treatment and care to improve the lives of our patients and communities for the long term.
• Build trust with each other and the industry, where we are highly regarded for trusted scientific innovations to improve patient outcomes.
• Strengthen Academic Medicine for the future, where integrated research, education and clinical care help shape what’s next in health care.

We are excited about the many ways this will deepen our partnership, and we remain committed to maintaining close collaboration throughout this process.

Thank you for your continued leadership, support and dedication to advancing knowledge, improving care and inspiring the future of medical discovery—together.

Regards,

Patricia A. Prelock, PhD
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, PhD
Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships

Ben Schwartz, MD
President, Academic Medicine, Banner Health

Marjorie Bessel, MD
Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer, Banner Health

Corey Casper, MD, MPH 
Chief Research Officer, Banner Health