The Research Concierge Service (RCS) is the "Front Door" or entry way to all elements of the CTSC program.  Through this "Front Door," researchers from all partner institutions can  easily identify and access the CTSC's vast resources. To the uninitiated researcher, and even to clinical research veterans, the complexities of modern clinical research present burdensome, ever-changing regulatory requirements and place ever increasing demands on the researcher and the researcher's study team. 

The RCS offers the researcher a single point of contact to 1) assist them, quickly and efficiently, at the initial project design stage and strategize the path forward; 2) shorten the amount of time researchers spend searching for valuable information; and 3) match researchers with the CTSC cores where core personnel can identify specific research needs and connect the researcher with the person whose specialized expertise can best support the project. The RCS also helps identify non-CTSC resources as well as provide education about the CTSC, the research process, and proposal development.

Another program linked to the  RCS  is the  CTSC pilot program .  Because of the special needs of pilot researchers, we have a designated Pilot Grant Coordinator within the RCS.  In his role as Pilot Grant Coordinator, David Hellard  ensures the successful administration of the Pilot Grant Program.

Since the CTSC of Cleveland involves multiple partners spread across the city, it was especially important to enable remote access to the RCS. To that end, the RCS collaborated with the BRIM to launch the Request Management System (RMS) in a staged fashion allowing for feedback from cores and researchers.  A key function of the RMS is to facilitate appropriate responses based on the researchers' needs. Requests to the RCS can either be specific, and so routed directly to the appropriate services, or unfocused, requiring consultation with the RCS.  Researchers can easily submit basic requests and send more difficult ones to the RCS for assessment.

The services of the RCS currently provided, both in-person and virtually, are:

• Answer questions about CTSC services
• Match research needs to core services
• Navigate  inexperienced researchers on the nuts and bolts of getting a study underway (e.g., discussing formats and sections for protocols, data tools, managing data, locating needed data resources) 
• Assist data flow design and identification of data tools for studies (not database development but help to find the appropriate database and support for this activity)
• Administer CTSC Pilot Funding Program
• Provide guidance on regulatory requirements as well as data safety and monitoring
• Provide education on the overall research process
• Respond to ad hoc requests from researchers, e.g.

• Identify recruitment resources 
• Researcher assumes study responsibility due to researcher leaving institution - what to do next?
• Researcher receives first NIH funding grant - what next?
• Link researchers across disciplines and institutions
• Create taskforces to better serve researchers
  • Facilitated IRB Review
  • Responsible Conduct for Research (RCR)
  • Survey and Analysis (BERD, CER, BSMR, Population Health/Outcomes Research Core)

Reaching out for new ideas and collaborations!  How can we help you?

Contact the RCS:

            ctsc-research-concierge@case.edu

            ctsc-pilot-coordinator@case.edu

            CWRU   BRB-109

Carolyn Apperson-Hansen

Director                           

cva9@case.edu        216 368-0035

David Hellard

Research Enhancement Specialist    

dth8@case.edu           216 368-0840

Katie Sturgis

Administrative Assistant 

kls150@case.edu       216 368-4669