Resources page
(boilerplate language for grant applications)

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH

1. Faculty and students who are leaders of multidisciplinary research
2. Innovative methods accelerating research that improves human health
3. Community partnerships establishing a national model for the integration of research and health care

MISSION

Our mission is to provide a home for clinical and translational science that facilitates and promotes innovative research and training by bridging disciplines, institutions, and communities, to advance knowledge and improve human health. 

AIMS

Our aims are to:

1. Leverage existing networks and collaborations to introduce new research and educational opportunities across communities and the region.
2. Increase the speed of research translation by integrating our research resources into an easy-to-navigate, seamless infrastructure that fosters connections across disciplines, institutions, and communities.
3. Train and mentor clinical and translational research leaders who value and conduct team science.

WEBSITE

 http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/home.html

OFFICE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH 2007 ANNUAL REPORT

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/img/assets/20383/OCRAnnualRpt071.pdf

GENERAL INFORMATION

WEB SITE

The Office of Clinical Research web site [http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/home.html] offers up-to-date information about the office and staff, news, current events, employment opportunities, services, and resources.

The Researcher’s Toolbox section of the web site has information about clinical research training, funding opportunities, forms and processes templates, writing resources, a research expertise database, and research resources. Samples of grant applications are being added. 

Join OCR mailing lists at: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/join/home.html

CONTACT:   Shawn Larson, OCR webmaster (612-625-1653,  lars1529@umn.edu)

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Position descriptions can be found by clicking on the links at the web site below. To apply, go to www.employment.umn.edu, click on "Search Postings" in the upper left corner of the page, and enter the requisition number in the search field that displays.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/employment/home.html

CONTACT US

Office of Clinical Research
717 Delaware St. SE, Room 229
Minneapolis, MN  55414
612-626-6033

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT  

BIOSTATISTICS, DESIGN, AND ANALYSIS CENTER  (BDAC)

The Biostatistics, Design, and Analysis Center (BDAC) is a service component of the Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota, and provides a wide range of statistical support services, which include study design, assistance in preparing grant applications, database design and development, data management, statistical analysis, results summarization, and participation in manuscript writing. The BDAC can also arrange for data coding and data entry. The BDAC is directed by John Connett, Ph.D., division head and professor of biostatistics and is staffed by Hongfei Guo, Ph.D., Cynthia Davey, M.S., Philippe Gaillard, M.S., Scott Lunos, M.S., Sue Lowry, B.A., and biostatistics graduate student research assistants.

The BDAC uses workstations supported by the Academic Health Center - Information Systems. All BDAC workstations are password protected and installed with commonly used word processing and data management software. The BDAC uses a variety of statistical software packages for analysis and sample size/power calculations (e.g., SAS, R, S-Plus, nQuery, etc.). The BDAC uses an AHC departmental file server with access granted to designated BDAC personnel to store and retrieve files. The server is behind a firewall and backed up nightly.

CONTACT:  Norrie Brumm (612-626-6032, ahcocr@umn.edu)

CLINICAL STUDY COORDINATION

We provide assistance in coordinating Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-compliant clinical research studies, including:  providing Clinical Research Coordinators, assisting with IRB and other oversight body applications, subject recruitment, case report forms (CRFs), adverse events, project finances, protocol amendments, and final reports.

CONTACT:  Debra Dykhuis (612-624-9154,  dykhu001@umn.edu)

RESEARCH FACILITIES

We manage two research facilities in 20,000 square feet of space: the Delaware Clinical Research Unit (D-CRU), a new state-of-the-art ambulatory clinical research unit at 717 Delaware; and the Masonic Clinical Research Unit (M-CRU), a unit for high-intensity projects for both in- and outpatients in the Masonic Cancer Building (the site of the NIH-funded General Clinical Research Center).

D-CRU facilities include 10 exam rooms, a child-friendly waiting room, private consultation rooms, a smoking room with 2-way mirrors, a conference room for group interventions, shared office space for investigators and staff, 6 procedure rooms, a metabolic kitchen and dining room, and a locked medication room. D-CRU has  a nursing staff of RNs and CMAs specifically trained in clinical research and a networked computer system specifically designed for clinical research. Experienced nutrition, laboratory, computer, and administrative staff are available to provide consultation and professional support to investigators.

CONTACT:  Carolee Wieneke (612-626-0476, minck001@umn.edu)

MOUSE ECHO LAB

The mouse echocardiography (echo) laboratory, located in the Dwan Cardiovascular Center, is equipped with the Vevo 660 and 30- and 40-MHz probes. Investigators can use resources in this lab to determine and examine cardiac abnormalities in structure or function with M-mode and two-dimensional imaging capabilities. Lab cost is $25/hour; consultation on lab services and training on the specialized lab equipment are also available.

CONTACT:  Elizabeth Braunlin, M.D., Ph.D. (612-626-2755, braun002@umn.edu)

REGULATORY SUPPORT

This service assists investigators in determining whether an IND or IDE should be filed and the filing of appropriate documents. We also provide clinical trial monitoring and advice regarding compliance with GDP, including appropriate documentation, file set up, and storage of study files.

CONTACT:  Debra Dykhuis (612-624-9154,  dykhu001@umn.edu)

ACCELERATE

Since September 2006 the Office of Clinical Research has published Accelerate, our monthly newsletter about clinical and translational research distributed in paper and online versions at no cost to 1,600 subscribers.

1. Accelerate showcases the wide range of resources available to researchers, incorporating news from the Research Services Organization, the General Clinical Research Center, and the University’s NIH-funded K12 training program, the Career Advancement Program for Clinical Research Scholars (CAPS).
2. Issues occasionally include special inserts, such as an overview of internal University funding opportunities, as well as external pull-out year training programs.
3. Subscribe at:  http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/news/accelerate/home.html

CONTACT:  Brenda Hudson (612-624-3422, bhudson@umn.edu)

NIH CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL AWARD (CTSA) INFORMATION

Information about the NIH call for Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) is found here.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/ctsa/home.html

Contact the CTSA team at ctsa@umn.edu

U of M RESEARCH EXPERTISE DATABASE

Experts@Minnesota is the University’s expertise web site, a gateway to faculty and staff experts. Use it to locate mentors, subject matter experts, or research partners. Use the Search features to explore a subject or locate a specific expert.

http://experts.umn.edu/

RESEARCH RESOURCES

The Harvard School of Public Health Human Subjects Administration offers a resource called the Global Research Ethics map to help researchers understand and honor the ethical requirements for conducting studies at collaborative sites outside of the U.S.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/toolbox/resources/home.html

EDUCATION 

CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH SCHOLARS (CAPS)

CAPS, an NIH-funded K12 program, is the University’s mentored clinical research scholars program, offering courses and seminars as well as protected time for scholars to pursue a multidisciplinary research project.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/toolbox/training/caps/home.html

CONTACT:   Terri Tharp (612-626-8882, tharp@epi.umn.edu)

M.S. IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

This master of science degree housed in the School of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health focuses primarily on patient-oriented research. Applicants must have an advanced health professional degree, an advanced nursing degree or any other advanced doctoral degree in a clinical biomedical field.

http://www.sph.umn.edu/education/cr/home.html

CONTACT:  Andrea Kish (612-626-8802, kish@umn.edu)

PRE-DOCTORAL SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

This  8- to 12-week paid fellowship gives pre-doctoral students from all six AHC schools the opportunity to work on an ongoing research project with a mentor who is an established investigator.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/toolbox/training/predoc/home.html

CONTACT:  Meredith Craven (612-626-6232, mcraven@umn.edu)

DISTINGUISHED VISITING SCHOLAR SERIES (DVSS)

This monthly program brings acknowledged leaders in clinical and translational research to the University to present on crucial aspects of research and conduct informal discussions with faculty, fellows, students and staff.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/dvss/home.html

CONTACT:  Meredith Craven (612-626-6232, mcraven@umn.edu)

CLINICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE

Designed to support the career development of junior faculty, this twice-monthly forum allows scholars, faculty and staff to present and discuss research methodology and findings with senior investigators and mentors.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/crc/home.html

CONTACT:  Meredith Craven (612-626-6232, mcraven@umn.edu)

COLLABORATION

BREAKTHROUGH SERIES

This program is designed to help advance our local medical technology edge with new academic-industry partnerships. Joint events with LifeScience Alley, the Upper Midwest’s biomedical industry trade association, are held twice yearly. Previous sessions covered neuromodulation and diabetes.

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/breakthroughseries/

CONTACT:  Meredith Craven (612-626-6232, mcraven@umn.edu)

COMMUNITY-UNIVERSITY PLANNING GRANTS

A joint funding opportunity with the Medical School’s Program in Health Disparities Research, this program works with a community advisory board to offer planning grants that address health disparities. These grants support collaborative research among community-based organizations and academic researchers on issues of importance to the community.

CONTACT:  Kristin Eide (612-625-1654, keide@umn.edu)