SJM_PROFILE_Hassman_Research_Institute_0920_profile 9 / 15 / 20 3 : 45 PM Page 1 ADVERTISEMENT BUSINESS T L I G H T SPO acne , diabetes , migraines , Asian - bridging ( where we study the safety , absorption , metabolism and excretion of a compound targeting different Asian sub - cultures ) , and many other diagnoses . We also complete Breaking New Ground Phase I research , which mostly targets healthy normal volunteers to explore if the From its two campuses in South Jersey , Hassman Research compound is safe for use among humans . We are proud to also have currently been Institute has an impact all over the world by conducting awarded COVID - 19 vaccine studies . a wide variety of clinical trials . by MATT COSENTINO Regardless of the phase , HRI collaborates closely with pharmaceutical companies to oping new treatment for ensure studies are performed flawlessly patients . I decided to delve and with the highest of quality . To complete into the world of clinical this complex work , HRI is known in the trials where I genuinely industry for spearheading various forms of feel humbled to be in this cutting - edge technologies to assess the industry now for over 35 compound’s efficacy , potential side effects years . and pharmacokinetics ( that is , under - My father , all my sib - standing how , where and when the medicine lings , and I attended moves in the body ) . We conduct fMRIs Philadelphia College of which examine how the molecule works on Osteopathic Medicine the hypothesized parts of the brain . We are ( PCOM ) to earn our med - among the few U.S . research sites that ical degrees . PCOM gave engage in qEEG ( quantitative EEG ) / brain my family the opportu - mapping , which uses modern analytic soft - nity to all become physi - ware to evaluate the dynamic changes cians and we have been taking place throughout the brain during fortunate that cognitive processing tasks to determine every one of which areas of the brain are engaged and my family members has processing information efficiently . Our been involved in con - research partnerships in these areas are far ducting clinical trials . reaching , including collaborating with the University of Oxford in England and UCLA . ike his father and all three of his siblings , Can you explain how Hassman Research Furthermore , HRI added driving simu - Dr.Howard Hassman has long had a pas - Institute got started , what the organization lators , which are essential tools for evaluating sion for medicine and improving the lives L does and the primary goals of the company ? how the research compound may impact the of patients . While the other members of his I started working in clinical trials over 35 individual’s driving performance . We also family are largely focused on their medical years ago with always the goal to “ improve conduct Human Abuse Liability ( HAL ) practice , however , he was drawn to clinical the quality of life ” for all patients that we studies where we research the extent to trial research , which he considers impera - serve . This is our official mission at Hassman which a compound may be addictive . The tive to developing treatments that help Research Institute ( HRI ) . FDA often requires such studies if there is an people live longer and with less suffering . To get to this primary goal , any new drug addictive potential to the compound , and As the chief scientific officer at the Has - must go through rigorous scientific scrutiny . HRI is one of a few sites in the U.S . per - sman Research Institute , Dr . Hassman has Essentially , this is what we refer to as clinical forming these crucial investigations . been part of countless breakthroughs over trials . As you see now from COVID - 19 vac - HRI is also leading the way in the industry the last three - plus decades that have pro - cine studies , before any medicine is on minimizing the placebo and nocebo vided hope to patients all over the world . approved by the FDA , it must be investigated responses that insidiously plague our work . South Jersey Magazine spoke to him to learn through a phase process . HRI conducts all Most clinical trials are randomized , double - more about the organization’s contribu - of these phases at our two inpatient and out - blind placebo - controlled , which means that tions to medicine , including work on a patient South Jersey facilities : one in Berlin the study participant may receive the placebo COVID - 19 vaccine . and the other in Marlton . All of our research ( a “ sugar ” pill which is an inert , through all of the different phases is focused nothing on psychiatric and general medical ail - substance ) or the active medication being I know you come from a family of physi - ments , including but not limited to schizo - investigated for its efficacy and safety and nei - cians , including your father . Did you know phrenia , schizoaffective disorder , bipolar dis - ther the participant nor anyone at the research from a young age you wanted to follow his order , major depression ( we currently are site know which group they are assigned ( like lead and enter the field of medicine ? running a post - partum depression study ) , a toss of a coin ) . Although pharma spends My father , Dr . Joseph Hassman , started his post - traumatic stress disorder , generalized millions of dollars on research , most trials medical practice over 50 years ago . Seeing the anxiety disorder , addiction , dementia ( such actually “ fail ” because study participants caring relationships he built with his patients as mild cognitive impairment and experience a positive effect while on the sparked my interest in pursuing medicine . I Alzheimer’s disorder ) , Parkinson’s , insomnia , placebo ( called a “ placebo response ” ) and / or also wanted to be in the forefront of devel - SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume17 issue 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 20 |