The Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research was created by a generous trust from Muriel Whiteside to St. Luke’s Hospital, Clinics and Foundation and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus. It was Miss Whiteside’s desire that the two organizations work together to support patient-oriented clinical research with a special emphasis in the areas of cancer, lung and heart disease. Since its inception in 1996, the Whiteside Institute has successfully promoted research in these and other specialty areas by awarding ninety-one Whiteside Grants totaling 1.2 million dollars and has further supported research through our Whiteside Technical Grants. Together these programs have resulted in 66 peer-reviewed publications, 2 patents, and a total of nearly 11.9 million dollars in leveraged grant money.

The Whiteside Institute is St. Luke's Research Department providing comprehensive research services throughout the institution with staff of fifteen people. Find more information and activities at St. Luke's Hospitals and Clinics.

The Whiteside Scientific Committee provides Scientific Review for proposed protocols if needed for the conduct of studies or outside grant proposals.

 

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Whiteside Lab Services

●     Whiteside Assay Unit: Assaying and analysis of clinical biospecimens. Available testing includes but is not limited to, ELISA assaying of cortisol, cotinine, DHEA, IL-6, progesterone and estradiol in human saliva or serum samples.  

●      Flow cytometry: experimental design and analysis using the Sony SH800 Flow Cytometer

●      Tissue culture

●      Clinical collaborations

●      Access to patients and clinical samples

 Please contact us if you have other scientific needs that you would like help with. We are here to consult with local investigators to support the research at the Medical School, Duluth Campus and St. Luke’s.

Whiteside Memorial Lecture

whiteside_memorial_lecture

Each year a speaker is invited to present a lecture focusing on their research as it relates to the Whiteside mission and to discuss the potential impact of this research on clinical practice. The goal of the annual lecture is to create an opportunity for collaboration and information exchange between basic science researchers, physicians, medical students, nurses and other clinical scientists. A reception with the speaker takes place during the hour before the lecture.

Whiteside Grants

The Whiteside Institute awards two types of grants: the Whiteside Grant, a financial grant, and the Whiteside Technical Grant, a grant that supports research by pairing a Whiteside Research Scientist with local investigators.

 

Whiteside Grants

The Whiteside Institute awards funds each year for local clinical research related to preventing or treating cancer, lung or heart disease. Clinical research includes studies of therapeutic interventions including clinical trials of drugs, disease prevention and health promotion; evaluation of diagnostic tests or strategies; behavioral studies; health services research; epidemiologic studies; outcomes research and translational research. Grant awards generally range from $15,000 to $20,000. More information can be found here.

 

Whiteside Technical Grants

Grant provides technical assistance of a Research Scientist in the Whiteside Molecular Biology Research Laboratory at the Medical School Duluth, 25% full-time equivalent for up to 3 months, plus up to $2,000 in supplies to facilitate research in the areas of cancer, heart and lung disease, the mission of the Whiteside Institute. Callouts for proposals to the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus researchers typically happen two times per year.

Contact

Research Scientist

Jim Bjork, PhD

Phone: 218-726-8890

Email: jbjork1@d.umn.edu

 

Program Director

Marilyn Odean, MS

Email: modean@d.umn.edu

Phone: 218-726-7495

 

Research Director

Matthew Slattery, PhD

Email: mslatter@d.umn.edu

Phone: 218-726-7223

 

Medical Director

Nils Arvold, MD

Email: nils.arvold@slhduluth.com