Writer: Eleana Teran
2 min read July 2023 — Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have joined forces to establish the Research Triangle Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (Triangle CERSI), under the patronage of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The partnership will receive up to $50 million over the next five years to pioneer regulatory science, a testament to the cutting-edge research abilities within the state’s higher education system.
“In North Carolina, we have some extremely well-established and impressive higher education institutions training the future workforce,” said Walter Fisher, managing partner of Troutman Pepper’s Charlotte office, in an interview with Invest:.
Echoing Fisher’s words, the Triangle CERSI stands out as a reflection of the state’s educational strength. Through its extensive research programs, the center aims to underpin the evolving public health challenges, reinforcing the reputation of North Carolina’s higher education institutions as a powerhouse in research and innovation.
The mission of the Triangle CERSI is to expedite the development process of drugs and medical devices through the development of advanced tools and approaches. Speaking to these capabilities, Robert Mentz, one of the four principal investigators at Duke, highlighted, “We are uniquely positioned to leverage the tremendous strengths of Duke’s trial and observational research infrastructure, machine learning, statistical knowledge, in silico trials and imaging expertise.”
Principal investigator Paul Watkins, also expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted to be awarded the fifth national CERSI, which is a testament to the outstanding scientists at Carolina and Duke, along with our collaborating institutions NC State and NCCU. This center will support many joint research projects involving FDA scientists to better inform regulatory decisions and thereby improve public health.”
In collaboration with the FDA, the center will not only generate crucial information but also provide infrastructure and tools to meet the ever-evolving needs of the regulatory body. This endeavor aims to strengthen the academic-industry relationship, transforming the way regulatory decisions are made and ultimately improving public health.
The establishment of the center is another step toward fortifying North Carolina’s reputation as a leading state in advanced research. The endeavor involves contributions from faculty members across a wide range of disciplines from UNC and Duke, as well as collaboration from other esteemed institutions like N.C. State and N.C. Central University; showing the collective strength of North Carolina’s education system and marking another milestone in research and innovation.
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