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From left, part of the new Clinical Trials Unit: Clinical Research Coordinators Alexandra Stauffer, Tam Le, and Madison Focht; and CRC Manager Susan Hamil, RN, CCRC. (Photo by Robert Banks.)

5.16.2024

New CTU — Serving UVA School of Medicine, UVA Health, and UVA — Launches on National Clinical Trials Day

On May 20 — 2024 National Clinical Trials DayUVA School of Medicine will celebrate the development of a new, full-service, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) to help UVA School of Medicine, UVA Health, and UVA achieve our shared mission of research excellence. Clinical research coordinators (CRCs), principal investigators (PIs), and anyone interested in clinical trials are invited to attend the event on May 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in Pinn Hall, Room 2ABC.

Leading research and translational impact is a key initiative of the "enabling discoveries for better health" goal of UVA Health’s strategic plan.

Expansion of Services

The CTU provides an enhanced, centralized infrastructure to support researchers in a methodologically sound, compliant, efficient, and cost effective way as they develop and execute high quality, human subject research. While some services already existed to support the research community, an expansion of services such as the ones listed below led to the development of CTU:

Translating Discoveries Into Revolutionary Therapies

“Clinical research allows us to offer novel therapies and treatment options to our patients, while also paving the way to more effective and potentially better tolerated therapies in the future,” explains Linda Duska, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Lawrence W. Penniston, MD, Family Endowed Professor of Women’s Oncology Research, UVA School of Medicine.

“The CTU will create a clinical research infrastructure allowing researchers without these resources to be successful in clinical research, while at the same time continuing support of all researchers across the University in their clinical research efforts,” adds Lori Elder, RN, BSN, CCRA, Director, UVA School of Medicine Clinical Trials Office.

The CTU aims to:

Cornerstone of Evidence-Based Medicine 

Clinical trials allow the development of safe and effective treatments and identify the patients who will benefit the most. By choosing to participate in clinical trials, volunteers have access to potential new treatments as they're being developed — sometimes years before they become widely available. After the treatments are FDA-approved, we're positioned to be among the first to offer them.

Novel Treatments

Our research and clinical trial work has led to novel treatments such as focused ultrasound for essential tremor and the artificial pancreas for diabetes. The Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology also is part of our commitment to developing new and better treatments.

'Ready to Go!'

"They are experts ... ready to help wherever they needed." Watch as PI Cirle Warren, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, shares how the CTU helped her set up an industry-sponsored trial:

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