DaVita Clinical Research Expands in Denver

DaVita Clinical Research, a provider of clinical research services focused on kidney research and a variety of other specialty therapeutic populations, announced an agreement to enter the St. Anthony Hospital campus in Lakewood, Colo. The 80-bed facility will be operational in early 2012 and is expected to create more than 50 specialized research jobs.

“We are excited about our partnership with a hospital that has such a strong reputation with healthcare professionals and patients throughout Colorado,” said Kent Thiry, DaVita Chairman and CEO.

The hospital-based site increases DCR’s physical capacity from 42 to 122 beds in North America. The facility will support high-risk studies and an expanded ability to support normal, healthy volunteer Phase I clinical studies. The custom-designed facility will provide DCR with the capacity needed to grow its clinical research business in existing specialty populations, including renal patients.

The 35,000-square-foot unit will be physically connected to St. Anthony Hospitalin Medical Office Plaza South. St. Anthony Hospital, a full-service hospital and Level I Trauma Center, opened its doors in Lakewood in June 2011 after 119 years in its central Denver location.