COM Outlook Winter 2021

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 29 B ecause the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to climb in 2020, the race to develop a vaccine ramped up, with numerous pharmaceutical companies work- ing overtime to develop and test their vaccines at clinical research sites throughout the United States. One such site—Accel Clinical Research in Deland, Florida— was chosen to participate in the groundbreaking trials. “I was excited and honored to have our clinical research site selected for two of the first major COVID-19 vaccine trials in the United States,” said Bruce G. Rankin, D.O., CPI, FACOFP, a 1985 Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus who serves as medical director at Accel Clinical Research. “We were selected by Pfizer in April as 1 of 88 sites in the country to complete work on its phase 2/3 mRNA vaccine trial. Enrollment started in high-risk healthy participants in July. Accel was also selected by Moderna to participate in its COVID vaccine trial, which began the first week of August.” Helping Humanity According to Rankin, the goal is to enroll about 2,500 volunteer participants, who must sign an approved informed consent form before receiving the vaccine. “The study is looking for high-risk individuals, such as health care workers, first responders, teachers, and essential workers who are 18 years of age or older,” said Rankin, who has worked at Accel since 1998. “The high-risk group also includes people over 65 and those who are morbidly obese or have health conditions such as diabetes and heart or lung disease.” Because the participants are volunteers, they can request removal from the study at any time during the 24-month COVID-19 Bruce Rankin performs a wellness exam on a clinical trial participant who is about to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “I was excited and honored to have our clinical research site selected for two of the first major COVID-19 vaccine trials in the United States.” —BRUCE G. RANKIN