A respected clinical researcher, Carl Bazan, MD, has worked to ensure that investigational sites worldwide meet compliance and quality mandates. With a strong interest in technology, Dr. Carl Bazan has a particular focus on the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) in improving lives.
A recent Forbes article brought focus to the launch of Veloz, an organization that partners with major car manufacturers, charging network providers, and electricity providers in creating a commercial and policy landscape that seeks to make green transportation more accessible. Unfortunately, even Veloz’s core “Electric For All” program may not be enough to provide average consumers with immediate incentives to switch to EVs.
Notwithstanding the recent construction of an electric highway in Australia, one major issue is that such a thoroughfare is still far from a reality in the United Kingdom and the United States. Even where charging networks exist, those rapid chargers that can charge vehicles to 85 percent within half an hour are scarce. At the same time, battery cell production has not expanded enough to fulfill current demand scenarios, which is hampering overall growth.
Another issue is price, with average fully equipped EVs starting in the $40,000 range. This is substantially more than their gas-consuming counterparts. At the same time, a substantial number of consumers are wary of purchasing what they perceive as an early-stage technology that will improve in efficiency and come down in price significantly in the coming years. A core hurdle is changing consumer expectations and desires, as well as the way in which individual car ownership is constructed as a necessity in daily life.
A clinical research associate with Precision for Medicine, Carl Bazan leverages his medical training to oversee and manage the company’s projects at the company headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. As a researcher in the medical field, Carl Bazan works to stay abreast of developments and innovations in treatment, such as precision medicine, which continues to show promise in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.
Traditionally, diseases have always been treated with a “one-size-fits-all” mentality. When looking at patients diagnosed with a specific condition, treatments are typically determined based on what works for the average person. Precision medicine, on the other hand, involves utilizing genetic testing to determine the unique needs of the patient and then customizing a treatment plan based on that specific condition.
Patients with cancer can especially benefit from precision medicine. After a tumor is submitted for genetic profiling, scientists can determine genetic markers and the gene mutations that might allow cells to grow out of control. Once specific markers are identified, physicians can craft a treatment plan that aims to fight cancer at a genetic level, thus improving the prognosis of the patient.
Based in Maryland, Dr. Carl Bazan serves as Precision for Medicine clinical research associate and guides a variety of clinical trial and research programs. Dr. Carl Bazan’s experience extends to guiding testing of NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, lipocalin-2, siderocalin), which is a novel acute kidney injury biomarker used in diagnostic tests.
Elevated NGAL levels indicate acute kidney injury (AKI), a medical emergency that was once known as acute renal failure and involves the rapid deterioration of renal function. While AKI covers a broad range of kidney injuries, a unifying aspect is that after injury the body is unable to maintain the proper balance of electrolytes, pH level, and fluids. With the morbidity and mortality associated with AKI, the costs of treating the condition are often significant.
The small protein NGAL is an ideal biomarker, as it occurs in low levels within plasma and urine among healthy individuals. In case of kidney injury, its level rises rapidly, and as much as 24 hours before serum creatinine increases occur. The sensitivity of NGAL to kidney problems, typically within two hours of the injury, makes it vital in diagnosing a serious condition before it progresses further.
