Introducing the Cognitum ARO Consortium: Pioneering Collaborative Excellence

A groundbreaking initiative in the realm of academic research, the Cognitum ARO Consortium, officially launches today in Amsterdam during the European Society for Cardiology Congress 2023.

This consortium, comprised of seven world-class academic research organizations (ARO’s), brings together global leaders in scientific and clinical excellence. The vision behind this initiative is to leverage the power of scientific and clinical excellence to create improved healthcare outcomes for our global community.

The Consortium at a Glance:

The Cognitum Consortium unites a prestigious group of academic research organizations from across the globe, who are known for their commitment to excellence and positive global impact. The founding member institutes include the Centre for Chronic Disease Control in India, CPC Clinical Research in the USA, Einstein ARO in Brazil, Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU) - Global in the UK, RemediumOne in Sri Lanka, The George Institute in Australia and the Mayosi Research Group, University of Cape Town in South Africa.

The Cognitum ARO Consortium has the capability to manage all aspects of the clinical trial lifecycle, from clinical trial setup and trial delivery through to education and implementation. This is demonstrated through the successful completion of over 400 clinical trials. The consortium provides numerous additional benefits, including in-house clinical expertise and academic/scientific excellence, the ability to produce high-impact publications, the capacity to shape clinical practice, and the capability to identify and address implementation gaps.

These institutes are renowned for their history of driving innovation and for producing ground-breaking research that has pioneered real-world clinical impact. The Cognitum ARO Consortium possesses the unique capability to challenge conventional approaches and explore innovative methods of bringing scientific discovery to improve patient care worldwide.

Key Objectives of the Cognitum Consortium:

Addressing the participants at the inauguration, Professor Neil Poulter, Chair in Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, and founding director of the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, said: “Each of the founding member institutions has a strong track record at both regional and international levels in delivering trials. Together, we will ensure that we maintain a global perspective and incorporate patients from all over the world. We will do this as a unified team, leveraging our long-standing friendships and relationships among these institutions. Our aim is to lead through academic and scientific excellence, augmented by industry-best practices and efficiency. Drawing from our past experiences, I'm confident that we can achieve this in a very cost-effective way.”

The Cognitum Consortium aims to achieve several critical objectives:

1. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: By bringing together experts from diverse fields, Cognitum will facilitate cross-disciplinary research, driving innovation at the intersections of knowledge.
2. Global Impact: The consortium aims to leverage resources in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and ensure that studies are meticulously designed with a focus on ethnicity and diversity.
3. Knowledge Development: Cognitum will serve as a hub for clinical trial delivery, seamlessly connecting and expediting research via collaboration among member institutions, preferred partners and vendors.
4. Improve patient experience: The consortium will provide the advantage of conducting decentralized trials where suitable, thus offering enhanced flexibility and improving patient experience.
5. Education and Outreach: The consortium will actively engage with the public, policymakers, and industry partners to translate research into actionable solutions and promote informed decision-making.

Professor Otavio Berwanger, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health, UK, and Chair in Public Health at Imperial College London, has stated: 'The beauty of this consortium lies in the fact that we are coming together as equals, not as individual groups pursuing separate agendas. We are not working for someone; we are working with someone. This collaboration is at the heart of our approach. I believe that this consortium will continue to evolve, representing a significant opportunity to conduct highly efficient trials across academic, investigator-initiated, collaborative, and commercial domains.

In addition, representatives from the other founding member institutions introduced their respective organizations, showcasing their strength in contributing to collaborative efforts. The representatives include:

• Professor Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Executive Director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, India
• Professor Marc Bonaca, Professor of Medicine and Director of Vascular Research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Executive Director of CPC Clinical Research, USA
• Dr. Patricia Guimaraes, Head of Cardiovascular Clinical Trials at Einstein ARO, Brazil, representing Professor Luiz Rizzo, Director of Research and Development
• Professor Asita de Silva, Founder of RemediumOne, Senior Professor of Pharmacology, and Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
• Professor Kausik Ray, Chair in Public Health and Deputy Director of the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU), Director of ICTU-Global, UK
• Professor Ntobeko A B Ntusi, Chair and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa, representing Professor Mpiko Ntsekhe, Chair of Cardiology.

Dr Gaia Kiru, Head of Operations and Partnerships at ICTU-Global and Operations Lead for the Cognitum ARO Consortium highlighted that ‘the Consortium will allow us, going forward to run these international trials and studies even more efficiently, with these essential partnerships already in place and our objectives aligned’.

The Cognitum ARO Consortium aim to provide enable real end-to-end service provision, and with this in mind, will require vendors in specific areas. Dr Kiru announced the Consortium’s first preferred partner vendor, ClientPharma, who ‘excel in delivering swift, precise, and dependable pharmaceutical supply for global clinical trials, setting a new standard within the industry’.

Intended Impact:

Through collaborative work and innovative approaches, the Cognitum ARO Consortium envisions accelerating the development of modern treatments and interventions that address the pressing challenges of noncommunicable and communicable diseases. As a result, it aspires to make significant contributions to reducing disease burdens, improving patient care, and shaping the future of global healthcare.

How to Get Involved:

The Cognitum Consortium welcomes inquiries from academic research institutions, industry, potential collaborators, and individuals interested in contributing to its mission. For more information, visit www.cognitumconsoritum.org or contact us via our website for more information.

Join us in shaping the future through the power of collective knowledge. The Cognitum ARO Consortium is open for collaboration and ready to make a lasting impact on the world.