Public benefit corporation GAP Innovations, founded by a Washington, D.C. nonprofit, has acquired Tampa-based Axiom Clinical Research.
The acquisition serves to help GAP Innovations launch its first clinical research center. The space, still called Axiom Clinical Research, will share education resources and research programs with seniors to support learning about brain health. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“Under [Axiom’s] leadership, we will bring hope in the form of cutting-edge research to people living with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease as well as Multiple Sclerosis,” said President of GAP Innovations John Dwyer in a statement. “Our goal is to help to improve the future for millions impacted by these diseases.”
Axiom Clinical Research is a research institute that has been operating in the area for three decades. It was founded in 1993 by president and now lead researcher Dr. Susan Steen.
The clinic performs neurological research and provides individualized service to patients. It focuses on finding therapies and cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and other life-threatening neurodegenerative diseases, according to a release.
The research is primarily phase two through phase four, U.S. Food and Drug Administration-guided clinical trials operated by a six-member research team of neurologists. There were no changes to the team because of the acquisition.
In the next two years, GAP Innovations expects to hire 12 to 20 researchers as it works to develop the clinic with Axiom, Dwyer told Tampa Bay Inno. It is also looking to partner with physicians, hospitals, senior service organizations and any entity relevant to the research space, Dwyer said.
“Our clinical research site team has worked with patients and physicians from all over Tampa to advance important research initiatives, and together, we will continue in the mission to find treatments and cures for neurodegenerative diseases,” Steen said in a statement.
GAP Innovations was founded by the nonprofit Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation. It seeks to address issues and shortages in neurological treatment and research, according to a release. According to an Internal Revenue Service filing, Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation in 2021 earned $7.28 million in revenue and held $4.45 million in total assets.
