THE POTENTIAL LEASING OF LABORATORY SPACE BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION - PowerPoint Presentation

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THE POTENTIAL LEASING OF LABORATORY SPACE BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION ON THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE CAMPUS

Presented by:

Ann B. Nattinger, MD, MPH, MACP

Senior Associate Dean for Research

Medical College of Wisconsin

VA National Academic Affiliations Council

July 12-13, 2017Slide2

Overview

MCW is very fortunate to have a longstanding and strong partnership with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Milwaukee to provide the best healthcare possible to our country’s veterans

Leadership in MCW’s School of Medicine and VAMC have long recognized the power and mutual benefits from this collaboration

Over past several years, we have endeavored to finds ways to strengthen this partnership and to identify ways in which we can become increasingly more efficient and effective in serving our veteransOne such opportunity would be transformative for our collaborative research programs: the ability for the VAMC to lease wet lab research space – for VA research – on MCW’s main campus in MilwaukeeAlthough benefits for VA, MCW and, most importantly, our veterans are numerous, we have not been able to realize this plan despite many efforts

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Overview (continued)

Zablocki VA Medical Center laboratories and MCW’s main campus are five miles apart

Leasing space at MCW would serve to improve and expand research for our veteran population by co-locating the facilities in which MCW faculty are engaged in biomedical research

Distance and time needed to travel between lab facilities minimizes economic efficiencies and creates an obstacle for VA faculty to utilize MCW cores and scientific expertise Also impedes collaborative environment necessary for faculty to maximize outcomes for our veteransCurrent configuration is preventing dollars from being used in most efficient and effective means possible 3Slide4

MCW

Froedtert

Children’s

Blood CenterCurativeBehavioral HealthCancer CenterEye Institute

Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)

Froedtert Hospital

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Eye Institute

Curative Care Network

BloodCenter of Wisconsin

Milwaukee County Behavioral Health

Milwaukee Regional Medical Center

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Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center

Medical College of WisconsinSlide6

Challenges Due to Current Location of Labs

Current wet lab space at Zablocki VAMC for VA-funded investigators is outdated and, in some cases, not well-suited for wet lab research

VAMC building housing the labs is at least 80 years old and the laboratories themselves are situated in converted hospital wards

Proper ventilation is challenging, especially when toxins are involved in researchVAMC complex itself is crowded, and the laboratory space would be better suited for much-needed office spaceThe commute between MCW’s main campus and the Zablocki VAMC requires ½ hour each way (door-to-door)15-20 investigators utilize the VA labs; most make 3-4 round trips per week from MCWresults in significant amount of lost time that could be better used on research activities to improve veterans’ health6Slide7

Benefits to the VAMC

Relocation of the labs would offer better opportunities for scientific collaborations and enhanced facilities – likely would result in larger pool of investigators applying for VA-funded grants

Would open up space for additional offices and/or other priorities

Would provide access to a substantially larger pool of scientists and resources at MCWincluding genetically modified animals and core equipment in state-of-the-art research facilities7Slide8

Benefits to MCW Researchers

Collaboration with colleagues in closer proximity

Utilization of core facilities

Enhanced mentorship opportunities between junior and more seasoned investigatorsAccess to shared equipment purchased with VA Central Funds or other federal sourcesReduced travel time/greater efficiencies8Slide9

Potential VAMC Research Collaboration Space at MCWSlide10

Potential VAMC Research Collaboration Space at MCWSlide11

Potential VAMC Research Collaboration Space at MCWSlide12

Past Barriers to Leasing

National freeze on VA spending (fiscal years 2014 and 2017)

Memorandum precluding the spending of VA Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) funds on off-site leases (fiscal year 2017)

VA national freeze on hiring (winter/spring 2017), which has been a barrier to research in general. 12Slide13

Conclusion

Precedent has been set for such a leased research space agreement at other academic medical centers around the US

Relocating VA-funded research laboratories to leased space within MCW-Milwaukee would result in better biomedical research to improve the health of veterans, greater productivity and enhanced scientific outcomes in collaborative and cost-effective manner

MCW and Zablocki VA leadership suggest commencing pilot program in which the labs of 5 investigators would move from VAMC to MCW-Milwaukee under sole-source lease arrangementshould this be successful, remainder of investigators could relocate to MCW over certain period of timeReflecting of the critical partnership with VAMC, MCW will lease state-of-the-art research space at very competitive rate of $25/sf for pilot program described above (2,700 sf of lab space currently being used at VAMC), cost would be very reasonable: ~$67,500 annually13Slide14

MCW is extremely grateful to the Veterans Administration for its commitment to partnering with Academic Medical Centers to benefit the health of our nation’s veterans and looks forward to continuing the dialogue on leased wet lab space on MCW’s Milwaukee campus.