Marshfield, CCI = Healthcare Innovation Alliance

Marshfield Clinic has entered into a collaborative relationship with Cleveland Clinic to develop medical innovations that improve patient care.

As the only health care provider in Wisconsin to join the Healthcare Innovation Alliance Network, Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences will have access to Cleveland Clinic Innovations’ (CCI) comprehensive technology and commercialization capabilities and expertise. 

CCI’s robust infrastructure and 13 years of experience make it the ideal collaborator for Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences as it works to advance diagnostic tools and treatments created by Marshfield Clinic physicians, researchers, and staff. The Innovation Alliance also will foster the transfer of Marshfield Clinic technology into commercialization.

“Cleveland Clinic Innovations has the proven ability to successfully develop innovations based on the principle of improving health care for patients,” says Marsha Barwick, director of Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences. “By leveraging CCI’s experience and skill, Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences will build upon Marshfield Clinic’s years of innovation that’s at the core of what our physicians and researchers do.”

CCI will employ the same knowledge and resources that have helped it become an industry leader in navigating the commercialization of medical innovations to develop and market cutting edge technology. CCI’s patient-first approach has led to 57 spin-off companies and more than 400 licensed technologies.

“The Healthcare Innovation Alliance supports the acceleration of technologies that extend and improve human life,” states Dr. Thomas J. Graham, chief innovation officer at Cleveland Clinic. “We’re pleased to have Marshfield Clinic become the seventh member of the alliance network. As the network grows, so do opportunities to leverage the collective experience and expertise of its members.”

Marshfield Clinic joins current Alliance members MedStar Health, North Shore-LIJ, University of Notre Dame, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, ProMedica, and Innovations Institute.

This collaboration is the next step in the evolution of Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences, which formed in 2006 to manage the intellectual property from scientists, clinicians, and staff at Marshfield Clinic. CCI will assist Marshfield Clinic in recognizing, patenting, licensing, and ultimately commercializing innovations that will benefit the population.

The bio-technology industry continues to blossom in Wisconsin and Marshfield Clinic Applied Sciences plans to help drive economic development. Medical advances researched at Marshfield Clinic that become viable products or result in the formation of new companies could spur economic growth.

The collaboration of clinical care, research, laboratory testing, education and public health services at Marshfield Clinic differentiate it from other health care providers. By combining these services, Marshfield Clinic offers patients and providers access to innovative technology, leading to comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease, and infection.

“For more than 95 years, innovating through research and patient care has been a part of Marshfield Clinic’s core mission,” says Dr. Brian Ewert, Marshfield Clinic president. “Collaborating with Cleveland Clinic ensures we’re continuing to nurture discoveries flowing out of Marshfield Clinic in order to improve patient care.”