Marshall, MIST to commercialize pregnancy software

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University and Huntington-based software development company Strictly Business Computer Systems, Inc., last week announced formation of a partnership resulting in the creation of Medical Information Systems Technology, LLC (MIST).

MIST is the second company to come out of collaboration with Marshall University and the local community. Nearly a year ago, Vandalia Research and Marshall entered into an exclusive license agreement to commercialize the Triathlon DNA production system.

The new company's primary mission is to substantially reduce, if not eliminate, the adverse effects of preeclampsia on pregnant women and their unborn children. Preeclampsia, hypertension during pregnancy, affects about 450,000 pregnancies each year in the United States. It is a major cause of maternal deaths and premature births, with an average gestation of around 28 weeks rather than the normal 38 weeks. Preeclampsia also is a leading cause of infant mortality.

Premature births in the 28th week of gestation likely will leave the infant with lifelong medical problems. The annual medical care cost of these premature births is close to $18 billion.

"This partnership is a testament to the proven power of interdisciplinary research to generate new business enterprise," Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp said. "The newly created Medical Information Systems Technology, LLC (MIST) is a novel business venture that combines innovative thinking and applied expertise in computational and biomedical sciences and modeling with business entrepreneurialism. We are proud to join with Strictly Business Computer Systems, Inc. in this partnership."

Kopp said the technological breakthrough involved "holds great promise for the early detection, management and ultimately the prevention of the complications associated with preeclampsia in pregnant women and newborns."

Amy Anastasia, assistant director of Marshall's Technology Transfer Office, said the partnership with Strictly Business is a wonderful example of how a university with its applied research capabilities and a company that has a proven track record "can work together to create new technologies that provide benefits beyond just revenues and job creation."

"We are always looking for opportunities to share university intellectual properties with local businesses," Anastasia said.

A collaborative effort between Dr. David Chaffin, Denise Webb, RNC and computer specialists at Strictly Business led to successful application of a unique software package. The package can be added to CardioDynamics BioZ™ Impedance Cardiography (ICG) technology to reduce preterm preeclampsia in hundreds of high risk patients.

Preliminary use of this new technology at Cabell Huntington Hospital has markedly reduced infant mortality due to preeclampsia-induced premature births.

Chaffin is MIST's Chief Medical Officer, director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall, and medical director of Perinatal Services at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Webb is MIST's Chief Operating Officer and coordinator of Cabell Huntington's Maternal Hypertension Center.

"One of my goals at the High Risk Maternal and Fetal Care department at Cabell Huntington Hospital is to bring the benefits of our treatment protocol, supported by the MIST software and the use of CardioDynamics BioZ Impedance Cardiography technology, to patients of rural Appalachia without the necessity of them traveling hundreds of miles each week or so for treatment," Chaffin said.

"Accordingly, the telemedicine aspects of this software and improved usability being brought to the software through Strictly Business' efforts are critical to achieving our goals."

Dr. Robert Nerhood, Chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, stressed the importance of MIST and its mission.

"This is the most important and significant change in the philosophy of management of pregnant patients with hypertension in the 35 years I have been practicing obstetrics," said Nerhood, who is Chairman of the Board for Cabell Huntington Hospital.

MIST Chief Executive Officer Marc Solochek said the company's mission is to bring the benefits of impedance cardiology monitoring and the treatment protocol that Chaffin and Webb have developed to all obstetricians with the hope of eventually eliminating the adverse effects of preterm preeclampsia on mothers and babies.

"The MIST software is the vehicle for bringing this to the medical community," Solochek said. "Not only will the use of the MIST software with CardioDynamics BioZ® Impedance Cardiography machines save and/or improve countless thousands of lives and save billions of dollars, but it will provide an attractive investment return to those investors that help make this a reality."

For more information about Medical Information Systems Technology, LLC, formed in 2006, persons may call Solochek at (304) 781-6318 or visit www.misttechnologies.com.