The Clinical Research Center (CRC) is an invaluable resource for clinicians interested in conducting research at Hartford HealthCare. The CRC provides administrative and research coordinator support for the research activities of the institution’s medical staff. Support is provided for both investigator initiated studies as well as industry funded trials sponsored by pharmaceutical and medical device companies. While the CRC staff supports many experienced investigators they are also able to assist new investigators with limited experience. As part of the Hartford HealthCare Research Administration Program, the CRC interacts with a multidisciplinary staff with expertise in areas of clinical research design, grant-writing, contract negotiation and budget review, IRB document preparation, database design and data analysis.
CRC Services
The CRC works to develop partnerships between study sponsors and investigators and provides experienced staff to conduct quality clinical research at Hartford HealthCare.
Specific services include:
- Marketing our research program to potential study sponsors
- Connecting study sponsors with appropriate physician investigators
- Coordinating all elements of a clinical research trial
- contract review and budget preparation
- regulatory documentation and maintenance including IRB submissions
- study coordinator support
- patient screening, enrollment, randomization
- coordination of study procedures
- data management (case report form completion, query resolution)
- adverse event and other regulatory reporting to the IRB
- Processing of patient claims to comply with clinical trial billing requirements
CRC Staff
The CRC has supported research conducted by hospital investigators since 1993. The staff has grown to include 20 research professionals committed to providing excellence in clinical research activities. A Director provides management of the operational and financial areas of the department. Preventive Cardiology is supported by a research manager for that active clinical research program. A Research Pharmacy Technician is part of the CRC staff and assumes accountability for all investigational drug use at the institution.
The CRC coordinator staff includes Clinical Research Associates and Assistants with clinical research experience ranging from two to 26 years. Included in this group are seven RNs and LPNs. Several coordinators hold clinical research certifications through the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
The CRC staff have a wide variety of clinical expertise including clinical trial support in General Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Cardiology, Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Neurology, Pulmonary Medicine, Trauma/Emergency Medicine and Radiology.