Building the Engine of Discovery: Dr. Guiseppe Pizzorno’s Vision of Clinical Research in Chattanooga

If clinical trials are the engine that drives new treatments and medical breakthroughs, then Giuseppe Pizzorno, PhD, PharmD, is the master mechanic working under the hood.

At Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, he has quietly built the complex machinery-research teams, contracts, processes, and support systems-that allows dozens of cutting-edge trials to run without a hitch. Most patients never see this work, and many physicians simply rely on it in the background, but without it, those discoveries would stall before they ever reached the bedside. Now, after years of operating out of the spotlight, Dr. Pizzorno is being recognized for the vital role he plays with a Champions of Health Care Award from the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Through his visionary leadership, Dr. Pizzorno, chief research officer at Erlanger and faculty member at UT Health Science Center College of Medicine in Chattanooga, has built a strong collaborative bridge between the two institutions. Under his guidance, Erlanger's research program has grown into a powerhouse, supporting more than 50 physician-investigators in 11 therapeutic areas. Together, they are enrolling participants in roughly 40 active clinical trials, with another 25 to 30 in follow-up, advancing discoveries that span nearly every corner of modern medicine.

"We've created an environment where clinical research can thrive without disrupting clinical care," Dr. Pizzorno said. "Physicians here don't have protected research time, so our team supports them every step of the way-coordinators, regulatory staff, nurses-so that they can participate in high-impact research while continuing to care for patients."

That model is working. Research conducted at Erlanger, in partnership with UT Health Science Center, has led to faculty publications in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and other top-tier journals. Clinical trials span nearly every specialty, from AI-assisted colonoscopies in gastroenterology to advanced cardiac devices and Phase I urology drug trials. "For some patients, participating in a clinical trial means getting the best care they've ever had," he said. "That's the kind of impact that motivates me every day."

Dr. Pizzorno describes his own role in the process as "a little bit like match.com," pairing the right investigator with the right clinical trial and ensuring that each study is financially sustainable, scientifically rigorous, and operationally feasible.

"The clinical trial business is a $40 billion industry, and it's going to double in the next five years," he said. "We have to treat it like the serious business it is. That means negotiating contracts line by line, down to every needle and Band-Aid, and making sure our teams are delivering clean, usable data that sponsors can count on."

One of his biggest innovations has been workforce development. Facing challenges recruiting experienced research coordinators, Dr. Pizzorno launched a pipeline program for local college graduates taking gap years before medical or graduate school. These young professionals receive foundational training in clinical research and contribute meaningfully to trial coordination, gaining critical experience and often, strong letters of recommendation, as they prepare for careers in medicine.

"We've had students from UTC, Lee University, Kenyon College and even Baylor University join our team," he said. "Now we're seeing some of them go off to medical school, and others are staying in clinical research. It's become a real pipeline."

Dr. Pizzorno also emphasized the unique advantages Chattanooga offers for clinical research: a high-volume, diverse patient population, engaged physician faculty, and a geographic position that bridges urban and rural communities, many of whom benefit from access to cutting-edge trials.

Jessica Snowden, MD, UT Health Science Center vice chancellor for Research, also points to Chattanooga as a powerful example of why access to clinical trials matters statewide. "Clinical trials aren't just about advancing science - they're about ensuring that every patient has access to the very best care," she said. "If we only reach urban centers, we miss the chance to serve the people who need these treatments most. Dr. Pizzorno's work highlights the best of the UT Health Science Center's mission of bringing 'Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities' to all corners of our state through cutting-edge science and exemplary care."

While honored by the Champions of Health Care Award, Dr. Pizzorno remains focused on what's next: advancing early-phase clinical trials, expanding academic collaborations, and giving every trainee, coordinator, and physician the chance to contribute to something meaningful.

"When you give people opportunities, that's when they shine," he said.