This week, Laura and Sara are joined by Steve Satek, President and Founder of Great Lakes Clinical Trials, and special guest, Great Lakes Director of Marketing, Amber Holst. Great Lakes specializes in the study of investigational medications, food products, devices and supplements for the treatment of chronic diseases, notably in Mental Health, Memory Disorders and Pain Management. Steve is one of the passionate, dedicated leaders in Alzheimer’s research and Great Lakes is determined to find a way to prevent the disease from occurring in aging older adults. With two locations in Arlington Heights and Chicago, you can find Great Lakes just around the corner at 5149 N. Ashland.

Click here to view this posting on the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce website:

(from left) Steve with Amber, Sara and Laura in Transistor’s Studio C.

Here are some references from Episode 34 you may want to check out:

Steve has been working in the field of clinical research for the last 25 years. His education is in biochemistry and molecular biology. He spent a good amount of time as bench researcher, but didn’t find it very social. What is a bench researcher? Check out this informative blog post.
Steve started working clinical trials for cancer treatments while working at Northwestern University, and he worked his way up to bigger trials for larger clinics. He soon discovered he preferred a smaller clinic setting, leading him to open Great Lakes Clinical Trials in 2014 in Andersonville.
Steve was recently named by Crain’s Chicago as one of the most notable LGBTQ Executives for 2018. Check out the full article here, and Steve’s feature here.
Great Lakes is servicing a growing community of older LGBTQ adults.
Steve has always wanted to bring a clinic to a community, as opposed to bringing a community to a clinic. The opening of Great Lakes Clinical Trials allowed Chicago’s north side population to have somewhere closer to travel to as one of only a few clinics in the Chicagoland area. Steve also mentions the close proximity to Swedish Covenant Hospital and the partnership of services provided there.

“We need medications to maintain general public health, and the only way to get them approved for prescription is through the clinical trial process.”
-Steve Satek

What is a clinical trial and how do people enroll? First, a team of board certified physicians assess each volunteer patient to make sure the individual qualifies for the trial. All of the trials at Great Lakes are free for the patient. View current studies here.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.7 million Americans are living with the disease. Steve has been doing Alzheimer’s research for nearly 20 years. There are only four medications approved by the FDA right now to treat memory loss, but none of them specifically target Alzheimers. Great Lakes is working to target the source of memory loss in the brain; not just treating the side effect of memory loss.
To get the word out about Great Lakes Clinical Trials, Steve and his team do informative workshops around Chicagoland to encourage participation in trials. View upcoming events here.
Steve has lived in Andersonville since 1991. He knows that active older adults in the neighborhood want to participate in research studies, and offering the convenience of a nearby clinic is invaluable.

Thursday, November 8 has been named Chicago’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Day by Mayoral Proclamation. Patients who have participated in past research studies will speak to help educate the community on why these type of studies are so important. Special guests include both Alderman Osterman of the 48th Ward and Alderman O’Connor of the 40th Ward. Learn more about the event. RSVP for the event in advance.

The event will also feature free genetic cheek swabs to determine whether or not the Alzheimer’s gene is present, as well as memory screening. Individuals can also sign up for free memory screenings at any point at Great Lakes Clinical Trials.
Great Lakes is also conducting prevention trials with older adults, who may have the genetics to develop Alzheimer’s, but are not yet exhibiting systems. Prevention trials are for ages 60-70 and 70-75.
If given the chance to switch places with an Andersonville business for the day, Steve would choose to switch places with our very own Sara Dinges of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce staff! Amber would choose to switch places with AlleyCat Comics (5304 N. Clark).

Purple ribbons line Clark Street in Andersonville in honor of November’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Visit Great Lakes Clinical Trials on these platforms:
Online: greatlakesclinicaltrials.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GreatLakesCT
Instagram: @greatlakesCT
Twitter: @greatlakesCT

Chicago, IL – Great Lakes Clinical Trials Founder and President, Steve Satek, is one of Crain's Chicago Business’ Chicago's Notable LGBTQ Executives 2018.

Satek is being recognized for, among other things, his leadership at Great Lakes Clinical Trials which has greatly contributed to it being one of Chicago’s leading clinical research centers. Great Lakes Clinical Trials was established on the principle of making clinical study opportunities more convenient and comfortable for patients. This means providing easily accessible locations within neighborhood communities, including Andersonville and Arlington Heights, as well as creating a welcoming atmosphere to patients of all backgrounds, ages and sexual orientations.

Steve Satek, PresidentGreat Lakes Clinical Trials — Steve Satek, President
Great Lakes Clinical Trials

Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss are key areas of research for Satek and the team at Great Lakes Clinical Trials. “In recent years we have made good progress towards a cure,” commented Mr. Satek. “There are often a lot of uncertainties in research, but one thing we know for sure is that we will never have a new medication to help treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease without the participation of older adults in our current research trials.”

By 2030, there will be nearly five million adults aged 60 and older in the U.S. who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. As advanced age is a key risk factor or Alzheimer’s, Satek has created a community-based, LGBTQ-friendly center where volunteers and care partners can comfortably participate in clinical trials.

“At Great Lakes Clinical Trials, we are patient focused. We do not see color, race, religion or sexual orientation, but rather we see neighbors, friends and our community,” added Satek. “Diversity is one of the things I cherish most about growing up and living in the Chicago area. We are all equals, and I could not be prouder to be recognized for the welcoming culture established at Great Lakes Clinical Trials.”

The research center led by Satek recently joined the Global Alzheimer’s Platform (GAP) Foundation’s invitation only national network of the leading clinical trial sites in Alzheimer’s research. On learning of the Crain’s announcement, GAP’s president, John Dwyer said, “GAP congratulates Crain’s excellent judgement in selecting Steve as one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives. Steve is one of the passionate, dedicated leaders in Alzheimer’s research and shares our commitment to providing access to Alzheimer’s clinical trials to anyone interested in finding a cure for this invidious disease--a disease that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion or sexual orientation. Alzheimer’s research and Chicago are lucky to have Steve Satek and Great Lakes Clinical Trials in this fight; the recognition of his leadership is very much deserved.”

For more information about the ongoing research at Great Lakes Clinical Trials, visit: greatlakesclinicaltrials.com.

The announcement was made in Crain’s August 27th print edition as well as online at ChicagoBusiness.com. This section profiles Chicago's notable LGBTQ executives, specifically those who are advancing their industries and/or workplace equality.

About Great Lakes Clinical Trials

Great Lakes Clinical Trials is an independent, community-based research clinic. With two Chicago area locations in Andersonville and in Arlington Heights, the Great Lakes team have managed more than 525 clinical trials over the past 25 years and are committed to providing quality services for both study volunteers & the research industry. Great Lakes Clinical Trials specializes in the study of investigational medications, food products, devices and supplements for the treatment of chronic diseases, notably in Mental Health, Memory Disorders, Pain Management, Nutrition and Dermatology. For more information, please visit http://www.greatlakesclinicaltrials.com/.

Contact

To learn more or to inquire about interviews, please contact:
Steve Malito, Media Relations
Great Lakes Clinical Trials
Office: (773) 275-3500
Fax: (773) 275-3501
info@greatlakesclinicaltrials.com

Great Lakes Clinical Trials and Clinical Site Partners join Excel Medical Clinical Trials and platform site Clinical Trials of Texas at Flourish Research, expanding capabilities to 60 indications.

#AlwaysAndersonville: The Podcast – Steve Satek and Amber Holst of Great Lakes Clinical Trials

Crain’s Chicago Business Names Steve Satek One of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives