THE UPSTATE DISCOVERY CHALLENGE
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE FOCUS AND CAPABILITIES OF THE CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT INTRODUCTION: The Clinical Research Unit (CRU), located on the first floor of the Institute for Human Performance (IHP), is an Upstate Medical University supported specialized core facility dedicated to conducting outpatient clinical research funded by government, industry, or not-for-profit foundations. Any member of the Upstate Medical University faculty may utilize the resources available at the CRU for implementation of clinical research protocols. All projects are approved by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB). The CRU is generally open Monday-Friday 7am to 4:30 pm. When needed, it is also open evenings and weekends. The Division of Infectious Diseases in Department of Medicine, has utilized weekend hours for some of their vaccine trials. The CRU budget includes 6.1 FTE research RNs. These nurses work for the hospital as assigned when not needed on the CRU. RNs are paid by University Hospital (including overtime for weekend hours for vaccination trial visits). The research support specialist/laboratory technician, laboratories research nurse practitioner and space are supported by Research Administration.
UTILIZATION: In 2019-2020, investigators from the following departments used the CRU: Geriatrics (1 faculty), Medicine [Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (3 faculty), Infectious Diseases (4 faculty), Rheumatology (1 faculty)], Microbiology/Immunology (1 faculty), Neurology (6 faculty), OB/GYN (1 faculty) Orthopedic Surgery (1 faculty), Pediatrics (Endocrinology and Diabetes, 1 faculty), and Psychiatry (1 faculty). There were 1,656 study visits, some of which were quite brief and others lasting up to 12 hours. The most visits were conducted for studies in Geriatrics (135), Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (561), Infectious Diseases (747) and Neurology (129).
PI PERSPECTIVES: Benefits: • Research nurses are excellent, professional and treat participants with empathy and respect. • Research laboratory services (laboratory technician, processing, storing and shipping of samples) are excellent. 67
