Table of Contentss
The mission of the Washington University General Clinical Research Center is to
facilitate and support patient-oriented research, and research training, conducted
by the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine. To that end the GCRC
provides in-patient and out-patient research space, research nursing, dietary
and data management assistance, biostatistical consultation and core laboratory
services. The Washington University GCRC has been supported continuously by the
GCRC Program of the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes
of Health since 1960. Its most recent competitive renewal application includes
nearly 100 research protocols, several with multiple projects, from principal
investigators based in eight departments of the school of Medicine (10 divisions),
Pediatrics (7 divisions), Neurology, Psychiatry, Surgery, Radiology, Anesthesiology
and Pathology. Many of the PIs have collaborators, joint appointments, or both
in pre-clinical departments. While population-oriented research (e.g. epidemiology)
is represented, the bulk of the protocols are classical patient-oriented research
ranging from molecular biology and immunology through physiology and pathophysiology
to new approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of an array of diseases.
Disorders under study include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia,
osteoporosis and other age-related problems, obesity, depression and schizophrenia,
infectious diseases including AIDS, asthma, sickle cell disease, neurological
disorders including Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune diseases and endocrinopathies
including multiple endocrine neoplasia. Methods used include measures of gene
expression and genotype, of cerebral and myocardial metabolism with positron emission
tomography, cognitive functions, glucose/lipid/protein kinetics and of cholesterol
absorbtion with stable and radioactive isotopes in some instances paired with
tissue microdialysis, and organ structure with magnetic resonance imaging.
Governance of the GCRC includes the Advisory Committee which interprets NIH GCRC guidelines, establishes the WU GCRC policies with the consent of the GCRC Principal Investigator, prospectively reviews all research conducted on the GCRC, and provides supervision of and direction to the GCRC Program Director. GCRC personnel include those in nursing, bionutrition,
core laboratory,
data management and biostatistics
as well as those in administration and four physicians in program direction.
The GCRC is funded through the NIH GCRC program. The grant to Washington University GCRC supports
both the Adult Discrete Inpatient/Outpatient Unit and the Pediatric Per Diem
Outpatient/Inpatient Unit. The GCRC supports research performed by all WUSM
faculty and staff. Types of research include NIH funded projects, pilot
projects, and peer reviewed projects funded by non-profit foundations and
organizations. The costs of industry-initiated inpatient and outpatient
services are the responsibility of the supporting industry.
The
GCRC is also a major site of training in patient-oriented research, primarily
for postdoctoral fellows, at the School of Medicine. This includes mentored
training in the settings of the conduct of research on the GCRC and a didactic
program. Residents and students are exposed to research in humans largely through
rotations with subspecialties active on the GCRC.
The
Washington University General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) consists of an
Adult Unit and a Pediatric Unit. The Adult Unit is located on the 4th and 5th
floors of Barnard Hospital. The Pediatric Unit is located on the 11th floor
of St. Louis Children's Hospital.
The 4th floor of Barnard Hospital consists of a 6-room,
12-bed semi-private inpatient area that is staffed 24-hours a day (as research
necessitates). The space on the 4th floor is reserved for inpatient admissions
and outpatient testing expected to last more than two hours. An enclosed nursing
station, small kitchen and core laboratory round out the remaining space on
the 4th floor.
The 5th floor is the outpatient area
used for research studies involving less time, simple blood draws or laboratory
send offs. The patient area includes 2 full beds, 4 chair beds, a waiting room,
outpatient office as well as the dietary offices and kitchen. The outpatient
office is staffed Monday-Friday from 0700-1500. Located on the South end of
the 5th floor are the administrative offices and informatics core.
The Outpatient Pediatric Unit is located
on the 11th floor of St. Louis Children's Hospital, Suite 11 West 19. The remainder
of the core laboratory is located on the 3rd floor, entry of the McDonnell Pediatric
Research Building. The patient care area primarily supports outpatient research
activity. Inpatient beds located on the regular SLCH floors are available on
a per diem basis. The unit consists of 2 private exam rooms, 2 pulmonary exam
rooms , conference room, phlebotomy area and lab, intake area with stadiometer
and scales, small kitchenette, patient waiting area, a large treatment/ procedure
room which can accommodate 3-4 patients, and a nursing station. Administrative
offices are also located within the suite. Inpatient beds are available on a
per diem basis, located on the regular SLCH floors. To find the Pediatric GCRC,
use the Tower Elevators and follow the colored tube lights on the ceiling, which
will direct you to our door. The unit is staffed from 0600-1600 Monday-Friday;
other hours may be available as needed when prearranged with the Nurse Manager.
There
are four categories of GCRC outpatients and inpatients:
Outpatient visits are typically in category A or
D although category B outpatient visits can be arranged with prior Advisory
Committee approval.
Barnes Hospital Plaza
Category A.
Patient / subject seen / admitted for research. The patient / subject is not responsible
for any GCRC costs. All costs are the responsibiltiy of the GCRC grant. All ancillary
costs to the GCRC must be approved by the GCRC advisory committee. Physician fees
are not allowed. Managed care rules do not apply; the GCRC Advisory Committee
decides the appropriateness based on scientific needs of the research.
Category B.
Patient seen/admitted for medically indicated care but participating in research.
Managed care rules apply, and the patient's carrier is responsible for the costs
of care including physician fees. Generally there are no charges to the GCRC grant
although ancillary costs for research rather than care can be charged to the grant
given Advisory Committee approval.
Category C.
Patient admitted for care only. This is not an investigator option. In practice
only Barnard Trust patients (medically indigent patients with cancer) are in this
category.
Category D.
Patient / subject seen / admitted for industry-initiated research. The industry
sponsor is responsible for all costs. The principal investigator should specify
the intended patient category on the GCRC Advisory
Committee application form. The Advisory Committee determines the patient
category.
WU GCRC 4th Floor Barnard Hospital
BOX 8071
St. Louis, MO.
Revised-12/20/2006