www.bangorbreakfastrotary.org
July 19, 2012
takes an average of twelve years and $350 million to get a new drug from its conception in a lab to a patient.”
Gail Belanger, director and founder of Acadia Clinical
Research, opened her talk with big numbers at Thursday’s meeting. She outlined the work her lab performs to test the efficacy of new drugs prior to their release in the marketplace.
The Food and Drug Administration monitors the company’s protocols about every
6-8 weeks. “We’re in close scrutiny,” she said.
Pharmaceutical companies contract with
Acadia Clinical Research to conduct trials, but the company has to answer to the FDA. “We give the pharmaceutical companies every piece of information, good or bad.”
Ms. Belanger has been doing research for
25 years, starting at Eastern Maine Medical
Center where she did a breast cancer prevention study. She also worked at
Northeast Cardiology before starting her company in 2004.
From the Acadia website: “Acadia Clinical
Research is a Bangor-based medical research company currently conducting pharmaceutical research with local physicians. We offer opportunities to medical providers to participate in new, investigational therapeutic medicines and treatments for various diagnostic indications, which might give patients access to new and beneficial drugs. Clinical research is essential to understanding diseases, improving treatment methods, and providing alternative therapies for patients.

Acadia Clinical Research contacts pharmaceutical companies on behalf of interested physicians to recruit research studies in their specialties. Acadia
Clinical Research also works with their offices to guarantee compliance with protocols, as well as to complete the many necessary documents required for the trial. Acadia Clinical Research works as a liaison between the pharmaceutical company and the qualified physician during the clinical trial process. Many clinical trials also offer significant compensation to qualified physicians.”
Ms. Belanger said they advertise for patients and there is compensation.
Danielle Rancourt joined the club today. John Cheney, who convinced
Danielle that Jeff’s Catering is THE place to be on Thursday mornings, welcomed her into the fold. Danielle knows where the money is at TD Bank, for whom she works.
Jodi Steele presented the strategic plan for the Membership Committee.
About a dozen club members have signed up to help with a mentoring process, a new member orientation event and some off-meeting-site events. The committee’s first meeting will be after next week’s morning meeting. If you’re interested in joining the committee, contact Jodi.
President Steve Andrew announced that the next Pond Hockey
Tournament is February 9, 2013. Mark your calendars if you already have a 2013 edition. The deadline for our club’s nomination for the Rotary Youth Leadership
Awards is July 31. Steve said the strategic planning session facilitated by David
Green on Tuesday went well.
The Beer and Wine Tent at the Folk Festival will welcome your participation as servers, ID checkers (I assume) and other tasks. Bob Kreitzer will take your name and describe the duties and hours.
Ned Jennings is also taking names of those willing to help “police” the
Shaw’s parking lot during one of the mega-concerts at the waterfront. He needs
6-8 people on August 22 starting at 2 pm.
We felt cleansed after Ann Dyer quoted the Farmer’s Almanac about the origin of the phrase “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” (You see,
Danielle, we aren’t all about eating and listening to speakers. We actually learn things from time to time.)
Speaking of bathwater, Steve, in his Dial-a-Soap Moment, spoke of the high rate of infections that are transmitted by a simple handshake, especially in medical facilities where an alarming number of physicians have been observed NOT washing their hands. “Don’t shake hands with your doctor,” he urged. Dr. Lew Phillips was

present and admitted that he doesn’t shake hands at all.
NewsCenter 2 will have its own version of the Olympic Games next week, right on their lawn at the station, according to Judy Horan. Also in sports,
Jerry Whalen celebrated Tiger Wood’s lead in a golf tournament. Steve
Harrison gave happy and sad dollars: We sold a house and bought another one.
Moving sucks.”
Overheard: Paul Miragliuolo heard Nat Bond mention the phrase “sexual tension.” Paul gave a Curiosity Dollar, but failed to learn more.
Les Myers- July 19, 2012
The grace of lace
Jeff’s Catering parking lot- 6:35 a.m. July 19, 2012