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A Publication of WTVP

Research is a mainstay at the center, allowing them to offer the best possible care to patients.

Peoria’s medical community is home to many talented, innovative professionals. Among them are the doctors and staff of the Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Institute (BCDI). Located on the far north end of Knoxville Avenue, BCDI is the only federally-recognized Hemophilia Treatment Center of Excellence in downstate Illinois, serving patients throughout the state, as well as 15 other states.

“Dr. Michael Tarantino (medical director and president), Dr. Rohith Jesudas (staff hematologist) and I are very active in collaborative clinical research studies, nationally and internationally,” says Dr. Jonathan Roberts, associate medical and associate research director. “We’re definitely your destination if you have hemophilia or any bleeding disorders.”

Research has been part of the center from its inception. Dr. Tarantino felt strongly that the best way to offer top-notch care was to be on the forefront of research, always looking for new options to provide patients with different types of treatments as they become available. Two patients with the same bleeding disorder may have similar diagnostic levels, but react very differently to a given treatment. That is why Tarantino and the staff at BCDI actively participate in clinical trials and other research studies. By being involved from the beginning with these therapies, the team can offer the best possible care to their patients.

BCDI is proud to be part of Peoria’s strong medical community. “The research and therapies we’re doing here in central Illinois have given BCDI a national and international reputation,” notes Dr. Roberts. The center is actively participating in more than 25 studies to help find optimum treatment for patients with bleeding and clotting disorders. These studies range from clinical trials with different pharmaceuticals to quality-of-life studies to better measure treatment effectiveness.

“Goal Attainment Scaling for Haemophilia” was a recent study sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in which the patient worked with the hematologist to set personal goals. BCDI worked with the patients tracking their progress, following up on goals, and identifying what was working and what should be modified. This was a great success in outlining what patients could achieve, and coaching and tracking them as they followed this journey. Dr. Roberts was one of the lead investigators for the study, the results of which were recently published in the Haemophilia journal.  

BCDI also completed a study which resulted in the approval of Nplate for pediatrics for the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Nplate had successfully been used in adults, but research conducted at BCDI and other locations supported its use to improve the health of pediatric patients with ITP. Dr. Tarantino was the principal investigator for the international study, and the results were published in The Lancet. 

These are just a handful of more than 25 studies in which BCDI is currently engaged. The center will continue to focus on providing the best care possible and reaching out to help as many patients as they can. Research continues to be a mainstay at the center, allowing them to provide treatment for patients they may not be able to receive elsewhere. “We are thrilled to be part of the incredible medical community in Peoria,” Roberts explains. “We’re excited about the future and how we can help patients continue to find the best possible treatments.” iBi

For more information, visit ilbcdi.org.

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