San Angelo is on the front lines for a coronavirus vaccine thanks to a former resident – Standard-Times

Buy Photo

Krystal Doucet, associate site director at Benchmark Research in San Angelo, prepares lab samples Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.(Photo: Colin Murphey / San Angelo Standard-Times)

SAN ANGELOMark Lacy believes a vaccine for COVID-19 will be produced within the next 12 months, and San Angelo will have played a crucial rolein its development and possibly in its discovery.

Lacy, who was born and raised in San Angelo and who graduated from Central High School in 1978, is now the CEO of Benchmark Research, a clinical research companybased in Austin, Texas. The company has five locationsacross the United States, which include Fort Worth, San Angelo, New Orleans, and Sacramento.

In July, Benchmark Research began clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine in the Concho Valley, in which up to 300 residents have so far participated. Lacy hopes to eventually have 10,000 participants from the San Angelo area to help researchers develop a vaccine to the coronavirus.

"We're one of the only companies in the United States that are involved in all of the trials that the Federal government has considered to have the best promise to produce a (COVID-19) vaccine," Lacy said. "It makes me very proud that San Angelo can participate in possibly changing the world."

Helping to change the world through medical research is something San Angelo residents have already done, whether they're aware of it or not.

In its 20-plus years of operation, Benchmark Research's past studies have investigated vaccines for the H1N1 influenza during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, as well asthe Ebola virus during the 2014 Ebola virus epidemic.

"San Angelo is helping to find medicine to keep people healthier, longer," Lacy said. "San Angelo (residents) have participated in at least 20 groundbreaking studies that are saving millions and millions of lives."

Other studies Benchmark Research is conducting include combating bio-terrorism.

Lacy said San Angelo is one of 3,200 cities in the United States that have participated in ways to counteract small pox and other deadly pathogens that could be released during a terrorist attack.

To do this kind of research, and to find a vaccine for COVID-19, Lacy stressed the need to have volunteers who are willing to participate in clinical trials.

"It's critical we have volunteers," Lacy said. "It's very likely thatwithin the next 12 months, we will find a vaccine, and San Angelo has an opportunity to be part of the solution."

Lacy said residents living inSan Angelo have participated in more than 200 vaccine studies, and those whodo are paid for their time.

Compensation variesaccording to the level of participation, but Lacy said the maximum amountis up to $1,500 for each participant.

Krystal Doucet, associate site director at Benchmark Research in San Angelo, works with samples in a lab on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.(Photo: Colin Murphey / San Angelo Standard-Times)

While researchers are getting closer to discovering a vaccine for COVID, its too soon to presume victory that a vaccine is imminent, according to a group of USA TODAY panelistswho work in medicine, virology, immunology, logistics and supply chain issues.

Theres a possibility none of the current vaccine candidates will pan out. The typical success rate for vaccine development is 6%, according toThe Lancet, a British medical journal.

We simply cannot assume the outcome at this stage, said Dr. Kelly Moore, associate director of immunization education with the Immunization Action Coalition.

With at least10 possible vaccines now in the final Phase 3clinical testing stage, two looming questions remain: Will they work and will they work long enough?

There's no data to show that any of the candidate vaccines provides immunity to COVID-19. Thats what Phase 3 clinical trials test for, which are only now starting.

This is a new virus and we are just beginning to unravel the protective immunity, said Prakash Nagarkatti,an immunologist andvice president for research at theUniversity of South Carolina.

Krystal Doucet, associate site director at Benchmark Research in San Angelo, prepares lab samples Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.(Photo: Colin Murphey / San Angelo Standard-Times)

Officials with Benchmark Research said that before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study. Some research studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial, while others need healthy participants.

For COVID-19 vaccine studies, Benchmark Research officials said they are looking for participants who are highly likely to be or have been exposed to COVID-19, including those at risk for severe illness.

This includes peoplewho work in occupations that put them in regular contact with the public, such as nurses, doctors, construction workers, teachers, retail staff, delivery drivers and other essential workers.

High-risk individuals including those above age 65, and those who suffer from health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and asthma, are also eligible to participate, officials said.

Those interested in volunteering can visit Benchmark Research online and fill out a pre-screening form here:benchmarkresearch.net/participate/

For more information: call1-888-902-9605 or visit Benchmark Research at their San Angelo location at 3605 Executive Drive.

Krystal Doucet, associate site director at Benchmark Research in San Angelo, works with samples in a lab on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.(Photo: Colin Murphey / San Angelo Standard-Times)

Lacy stressed clinical trials pose little risk for volunteers developing COVID-19.

"The vaccine is made of dead, attenuated viruses so there is zero chance of getting COVID," Lacy said. "We've enrolled 28,000 patients over the last 15 years for vaccine studies and we have yet to have one serious adverse health effect related to the drug."

There are benefits and potential risks for participating in clinical trials, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Officials say it's possible you may get a new treatment for a disease before it's available to the public, but the new treatment could cause serious side effects or be uncomfortable.

"The history of clinical research is not perfect. Based on many years of experience and learning, Congress has passed laws to protect study participants. Today,everyclinical investigator is required to monitor and make sure thateveryparticipant is safe," according to a statement made by U.S. health officials.

If and when a vaccine for the coronavirus is eventually found, officials say it might take some convincing for residents wary of vaccines in general.

The agencies that decide if a vaccine isready and who gets it first are the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is vital that the U.S. government communicate clearly with the American people about the data and science behind any new COVID-19 vaccine, said Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, presidentandCEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

Lacy appeared to agree and encouragedpeople to proportion their opinions about vaccines based upon the available science.

"Everybody has a right to their own beliefs, but ...I believe what you should go by are the facts and the science, and not by rumors or innuendo," Lacy said.

Mark Lacy, CEO of Benchmark Research. Photo sent Aug. 25, 2020.(Photo: Contributed by Mark Lacy, Benchmark Research)

Lacy said he comes from a long line of San Angelo and Miles area businessmen his grandfather owned several businesses in San Angelo including a funeral home, and his father owned Harvester and Deere dealerships.

"I have a degree from The University of Texas and I attended school in Germany for a year as an exchange student," Lacy said. "Iwas also a special assistant to the secretary of transportation under Ronald Reagan."

Officials with Benchmark Research said Lacy has worked in commercial real estate in Manhattan and he later founded a company that performed communications audits.

Eventually he teamed up with a business partner with a background in clinical research, and suggested they start a company focused on clinical research trials.

In 1997, Benchmark Research opened a location in Fort Worth. Two years later, Lacy opened a branch in San Angelo, his hometown.

"I wanted to bring back jobs to San Angelo," Lacy said. "It makes me proud that San Angelo has representation in the international research industry."

More: Here's how COVID-19 survivors can donate plasma and help current San Angelo patients

John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip atJTufts@Gannett.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with asubscription toGoSanAngelo.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/2020/08/25/former-san-angelo-resident-now-ceo-looks-covid-19-vaccine/3430940001/

The rest is here:

San Angelo is on the front lines for a coronavirus vaccine thanks to a former resident - Standard-Times