In 2023, Alcon spent $828 million on research and development (R&D)—more than any other eye care company in the world. Ever heard of a million-dollar idea? At Alcon, we have 90+ active projects in our R&D pipeline.1
But how did we get here? How do we know which ideas are only good on paper, and which could change the future of eye care? The answer lies in how we approach research, including conducting a range of studies that assess devices and evaluate their performance, which enables our scientists to make more informed, efficient and data-driven decisions to optimize product development. However, even with the most efficient R&D processes in place, one variable can still slow everything down: clinical research space.
Why Clinical Research Facilities (and Their Location) Matters
In 2018, Alcon opened a new clinical research facility in Johns Creek, Georgia. The clinic allowed us to quickly test new vision care products while fostering cross-functional collaboration between engineers, chemists and clinicians.
“The results of this recipe, both scientifically and culturally, worked really well,” said Raj Suryakumar, PhD, FAAO, Alcon's Vice President and Global Head of Clinical R&D. “So, as we expand our surgical, pharmaceutical and vision care R&D footprints, we wanted to replicate that success in Fort Worth. Alcon is committed to engaging the communities where we live and work. Opening a research clinic in the heart of the city where some of our most innovative ideas have come to life felt like a natural extension of that commitment.”
While some clinics of this kind are used by multiple companies with competing priorities and limited resources, this facility is fully dedicated to Alcon, allowing for complete control over each step of the research process. This removal of third parties, along with the clinic’s proximity to Alcon’s Fort Worth campus, will allow for more efficient and flexible collaboration between scientists and clinicians, accelerating the execution of clinical trials.
Expanding Our Space and Enhancing Our Research
Alcon’s Fort Worth research clinic will focus primarily on non-invasive feasibility trials, the first step in the clinical trial process for vision care, surgical and pharmaceutical innovations to determine the scope of the project and opportunity to align on study design, patient type and more. The goal of R&D is to constantly innovate and develop novel products that meet patient needs. This clinic will allow the Alcon team to quickly test and iterate products, involving Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) throughout the entire research process.
“Many ECPs are interested in participating in our clinical programs as investigators or collaborators to advance research. Sometimes, not everyone who wants to participate can, especially in more rigorous trials that require clinics to have certain infrastructure or equipment,” said Dr. Suryakumar. “Our new Fort Worth research clinic will allow ECPs in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to participate in a more flexible capacity, enabling them to be at the forefront of informing on cutting-edge Alcon innovation.”
There are typically two types of trials in our R&D process: Investigator-Initiated Trials, which Alcon only supports financially and puts ownership in the hands of practitioners, and Alcon-Initiated Trials, which we conduct with the help of patients referred to us by local professionals.
This Alcon Research Clinic introduces a third, highly flexible hybrid option that allows for greater collaboration between Alcon and ECPs in the Fort Worth community:
- First, it allows Alcon to conduct quick preference studies, which compare outcomes of several tested products to determine how to proceed with a larger clinical trial. With the technologies available at the clinic, Alcon can partner with ECPs to make those decisions more quickly.
- Second, medical devices in development can get into the clinic faster. Alcon researchers will be able to quickly evaluate them on small numbers of volunteers, provide the results back to Alcon’s R&D teams and repeat the process with improved iterations of these devices.
- Finally, local ECPs will be able to conduct quick, cross-sectional studies, assess feasibility of novel clinical endpoints, and support product training.
The state-of-the-art center will also feature best-in-class technology and amenities, including an observation gallery, to replicate the in-clinic experience, making the endpoints we collect as true-to-life as possible.
How the Local Patient Community Will Benefit
By participating in Alcon’s research, Fort Worth-area patients who volunteer to participate in our studies will experience some of the most cutting-edge vision-enhancing technologies before anyone else—and help shape the future of eye care in the process.
“As is the case with all trials conducted with the highest levels of integrity, patients will have the opportunity to understand the trial details, the benefits of participating and the time-commitment we’ll need from them,” said Dr. Suryakumar. “At the end of the day, though, participants will be exposed to the latest eye care technology, gain a better understanding of their vision and vision science, and, hopefully, become ambassadors for the important work we’re doing in Fort Worth and the research community we’re building as a result.”
Bringing Something Brilliant to Fort Worth
The Alcon Research Clinic is located in the heart of Fort Worth’s downtown medical district, making it convenient for participants who may need to come in for multiple-day studies. Rather than commuting or staying overnight in our clinic, patients and traveling clinicians can spend the night comfortably in one of the several nearby hotels and enjoy all Fort Worth has to offer during their downtime.
“As scientists, we can be very particular about our ideas coming to life exactly as we intended,” said Dr. Suryakumar. “I’m thrilled to say we achieved that with this research clinic, and we’re so excited for its potential to bring new ideas to fruition in the same way.”
Interested in finding out more about our new facility? Please contact your Alcon representative.
References
- 2023 Alcon Social Impact & Sustainability Report.
