General Description

The CRC is primarily an outpatient center, but also supports inpatient studies in the University of Connecticut's John Dempsey Hospital. The major goal of the CRC is to carry out National Institute of Health (NIH) supported clinical research protocols. Many of these projects represent the application of basic science discoveries to clinical problems. The center is also used for studies supported by foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and companies developing diagnostic tests and devices.

The studies are carried out by faculty at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine located at the Health Center and at a number of major affiliated hospitals including Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and New Britain General Hospital.

Program Direction

The Principal Investigator of the center is Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. The Program Director is Cheryl Oncken, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine. The Associate Program Director is Anne Kenny, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine.

Services

The facilities of the CRC include 6 patient rooms, a treatment room, a consultation room and a computer center (Informatics Core) as well as offices for the staff. The Core Laboratory of the CRC is fully equipped to carry out immunoassays and analyses of DNA and RNA using molecular biology techniques. Oversight of the Center is provided by a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and all protocols are reviewed by a planning team within the CRC before being submitted to the SAC. The center currently employs a research staff of 25 who provide administrative and fiscal services, nursing and other support personnel to work with clinical investigators in carrying out protocols. The biostatistician and the informatics core director are available on a consultant basis to assist with protocol development, computer systems, and data analysis and management.