|
|
From the Directors
Happy Spring!
Part of the mission of the CTSC is to improve the ability of investigators to work together, form teams, and connect in interdisciplinary fashion. To further this goal, this month we launch "Case Research Profiles," from SciVal Experts, an easy-to-use directory of researcher expertise. This tool will assist investigators identify collaborators both in our CTSC and in institutions across the country.
Designed to facilitate faculty research and project collaboration, the information in SciVal Experts is based on publications indexed in the Scopus database (which includes all data available from PubMed), as well as NIH awarded grant data.
This tool will allow researchers to:
- Identify investigators who work in a similar or related area
- Assemble multidisciplinary teams to pursue translational and collaborative research projects/funding opportunities
- Find a mentor
SciVal Experts is a resource for hard-to-find information critical to scientific research and other projects across all disciplines. It provides knowledge management and research networking to facilitate and ultimately increase collaboration.
SciVal Experts uses fingerprint technology to provide researchers with the ability to understand and utilize the expertise across their institution - both at an individual and programmatic level. Aggregating individual fingerprints across organizational units allows the organization to keep track of individual achievements and also to assess progress in collaborative groups.
■ What new publications have been produced?
■ What trends have emerged over time?
■ Who is working together?
■ How can we build collaborative teams and productive research relationships, and enable networking beyond one's immediate peer group?
In addition to highlighting individual research expertise, SciVal Experts displays connections among CTSC CWRU/partner researchers and external faculty, and can assist in identifying potential collaborators. This tool can also help find mentors and subject matter experts, facilitating connections between faculty, students, staff, and other external users. SciVal Experts is easy to use, reflects both career-long and current information, and requires little, or no, faculty effort for creation or maintenance.
Please refer to our website for additional information and launch date:
We welcome your input to make SciVal Experts as complete and accurate as possible.
Pamela B. Davis, M.D., PhD.
|
|
Investigators Should Try ResearchMatch for Participant Recruitment
Finding Volunteers to take part in clinical trials or research studies is a large impediment to medical research. In 2009 Vanderbilt University launched ResearchMatch.org in order to bring volunteers and researchers together to expedite the participant recruiting process. The CTSC was among one of the first organizations to use ResearchMatch and offer its services to all CTSC members.
The CTSC ResearchMatch committee has worked hard to build up the participant registry and recently it was reported that the state of Ohio is outpacing all other states within the CTSA consortium in registered participants. However, building the ResearchMatch database of willing participants is only half the challenge.
The CTSC would like to promote and assist investigators in participant recruitment and make sure researchers are informed of the various advantages ResearchMatch.org can provide. ResearchMatch can be used for any type of IRB approved study, not just clinical trials. Investigators can use the system for either "Feasibility" or "Recruitment Access". In order to gain "Recruitment Access", a study's Principal Investigator (PI) and/or authorized recruitment proxy must submit sufficient evidence of having an approved IRB study.
These are the various steps for matching volunteers to your study:
- Search for appropriate matches amongst the non-identifiable ResearchMatch Volunteer profiles in the system.
- Enter your study's criteria in the ResearchMatch Search Builder which will yield a list of these potential matches.
- Send out IRB-approved content in your initial recruitment message to these potential matches through ResearchMatch. The secure ResearchMatch clearinghouse will route your message to each of these potential matches and they will have the option of not replying or replying yes or no. Your study's home page will feature all those Volunteers who say yes and show aggregate figures/charts demonstrating the response rate to your initial recruitment message.
Do you have studies for which you'd like to increase volunteer participant enrollment?
Contact:
Carolyn Apperson-Hansen, Director
Research Concierge Service
ctsc-research-concierge@case.edu, cva9@case.edu
Phone: 216-368-0035
|
CTSC Staff Spotlight: Alicia Thomas
Alicia Thomas, MS, RD, LD, is an integral part of the CTSC. She currently serves as the Research Bionutrition Manager for the CTSC Clinical Research Units at Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. She also serves as committee co-chairperson for the CTSC ResearchMatch initiative. Recently, Alicia was elected President of the National Association of Bionutritionists (NAB). The purpose of the NAB is to promote the health of the nation through the pursuit of clinical research. Alicia brings over twenty years of experience to the NAB, having served as a member of the NAB since the early nineties. In her new role within the National Association of Bionutritionists she plans to bring strategic planning that will improve cross-CTSA collaborations, improve membership participation, enhance NAB resources and continue to support the mission of the CTSA. The CTSC is fortunate to have someone with Alicia's credentials representing us on a local and national level. |
|
|
 |
Applications for Master of Science Program in Clinical Research Due April 15
The Clinical Research Scholars Program (CRSP) at CWRU is accepting applications for the Master of Science Program in Clinical Research. This flexible 2-5 year program is designed for post-doctoral trainees and faculty who seek training in the design and implementation of high-quality clinical research involving human subjects. Admission requirements include a degree in Medicine, Dentistry, a doctorate in Nursing, or allied sciences such as Pharmacy or Biomedical Engineering. CRSP offers a 36 credit-hour course of study that culminates in a Master of Science degree awarded by the School of Graduate Studies. Tuition support may be available through institutional training grants, individual fellowships, research career awards (e.g. NIH-funded T, F, or K grants), employers' tuition benefits program, or other resources. Visit the Clinical Research Scholars Program website for more information |
Comparative Effectiveness Seminar Series
Upcoming CER seminars:
April 19, 2012 , 4 pm in BRB 105 Sharon Meropol, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Pediatrics and Epidemiology & Biostatistics Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and CWRU School of Medicine "What's Your Drug of Choice? Comparative Effectiveness Research in Pharmacoepidemiology" June 14, 2012, 4 pm in BRB 105 Gregory Cooper, MD Professor of Medicine, Case School of Medicine Director, Fellowship Program, UH Case Medical Center |
Second Annual Comparative Effectiveness Research Conference May 21-22
"Comparative Effectiveness Research: From All Angles", the 2nd annual two-day conference (CME application pending), will be held May 21-22, 2012 at Case Western Reserve University. Many expert speakers are featured covering: methods, policy, physician practice, public acceptance, economics of payment, health care organizations, and ethical/legal/social issues. This is followed by a 3-day crash course in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.
For more information about the program and registration fees, or how to register for academic credit, visit: http://www.CERCME.wordpress.com.
Discounted registration for interns, residents, fellows, full-time students and employees of public health departments."
|
One Day Summit:
Personalized Healthcare For the Practicing Clinician
On May 31 at the Intercontinental Hotel, the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Personalized Healthcare will hold their 2nd annual Personalized Healthcare Summit. The 1-day CME conference aims to educate about clinically-relevant applications of personalized healthcare, the research behind these discoveries, and solutions to incorporate personalized healthcare into
clinical practice.
|
New Publication Citation
Due to the recent formation of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a new publication citation has been issued. the CTSC must receive acknowledgement on relevant publications. Please include the following text: "The project described was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant UL1RR024989. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH" |
CTSC Announces Two New Core Services
The goal of the CWRU Rodent Behavior Core is to conduct state of the art rodent behavioral testing for CTSC investigators. The core facility is equipped to perform a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests to thoroughly phenotype overall motor and sensory function of rats and mice as well as phenotype specific behaviors of interest to the investigators (e.g., learning and memory, motor function and gaiting, place/fear conditioning, pain/analgesia, and anxiety-related behaviors).The Core can assist in all aspects of rodent behavioral testing including design and execution of behavioral tasks as well as data analysis and interpretation.
Zebrafish are vertebrates that offer a greater similarity to humans than worms and other common small model organisms, such as fruit flies. It is therefore commonplace to identify genetic factors that are conserved in vertebrates. Importantly, this similarity also allows for researchers to study diseases in this system that are common between zebrafish and humans.
|
|
