The Salem Research Institute is a non-profit research 501(3)(c)
organization affiliated with the Salem Veterans Administration
Medical Center (VAMC). SRI was incorporated in 1991. Since then it
has grown into a research organization with 21 affiliated
investigators. It facilitates and administers non-VA appropriated
research conducted by VA physicians at the laboratories and clinics
of Salem VAMC providing the flexibility and speed sponsors want in
conducting their clinical trials while enhancing our ability to
search for new or improved methods of treating human
afflictions.
The Salem VAMC is a Clinical Referral Level 1 facility which
serves veterans throughout the entire state of Virginia for
psychiatric care and southwestern Virginia for medical and surgical
care. The medical center serves as a tertiary referral center for
acute and long-term psychiatric care. During a single year
approximately 26,000+ patients are seen in over 300,000 patient
visits. While the veterans population is overwhelmingly male,
around 10% of the Salem VAMC patient population is female.
Approximately 45% of the patients are 65+. With an average age of
59 our patient base makes it ideal for clinical trials for diseases
associated with aging. It provides a significant resource for
number of endocrine and metabolic disorders such as diabetes
mellitus, obesity, lipid disorders, hypertension, hypogonadism,
osteoporosis, and erectile dysfunction. Our diabetic population of
over 4,000 patients is a major resource for clinical trials of
diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and
neuropathy.
The 297-bed facility is affiliated with the University of
Virginia School of Medicine for the training of 55 residents,
medical students, and fellows in nine specialties. In addition, 21
associated health-training programs are offered in affiliation with
50 colleges and universities.
The Salem VAMC Mental Health Program supports a primary care
psychiatry clinic where mental health patients receive their
medical needs attended to by dually boarded
psychiatrist/internists, residents, and nurse practitioners; 8
rural satellite mental health clinics; and 8 substance abuse after
care programs throughout southwest Virginia. In the past year the
program had over 1000 admissions to 106 inpatient beds plus a 16
bed Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program.
Current bed allocation is 35 acute beds; 25 behaviorally-disturbed
dementia beds; 33 sustained treatment and rehabilitation beds for
chronically, severely mentally ill; and a 13 bed Post-Traumatic
Stress Treatment Unit. Approximately 4000 outpatients are seen in
40,000+ outpatient visits annually.
The estimated population for the surrounding Greater Roanoke
Metropolitan area is over 230,000 with over 870,000 within one
hour’s drive of our facility. Through SRI, Salem VAMC investigators
have the ability to recruit non-veterans into clinical trials when
appropriate.
Salem Research Institute is easy for monitors to reach. Roanoke
Regional Airport is only 20 minutes away. One can reach Interstate
81 in less than 10 minutes.
We have an active research program that includes 30+
investigators working on over 45 approved projects in the past year
alone. Since 1991, Salem Research Institute has received over
$2,500,000 in non-VA research funds. Research is supported
in a variety of areas, including:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Asthma
- Cardiac and Vascular Disorders
- Dental Implants
- Depression
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Erosive Reflux Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
- Hypertension
- Hypogonadism
- Influenza
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lipid Disorders
- Neurologic Disorders
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Pneumonia
- Smoking Cessation
- Substance Abuse
The Salem Research Institute has worked with a variety of
Sponsors and CROs including Advanced Biologics,
AstraZeneca, Paragon Biomedical, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech,
GlaxoWellcome, Merck, Parke-Davis, Pfizer, Phoenix Life Sciences
International, Quintiles, and SmithKline Beecham among others.
The Salem Research Institute offers comprehensive research
services including:
- Experienced physician investigators and study coordinators
- Consultation in all medical and surgical specialties
- Quick turnaround on clinical trial agreements
- In past two years over 80% of our studies met or exceeded
target enrollment and over 30% exceeded target enrollment
- Investigational pharmacy with restricted and secure drug
storage
- Radiology services with immediate result reporting
- CAP-certified general clinical laboratory
- CAP-certified endocrine laboratory equipped to perform a wide
variety of immunoassays
- Dedicated refrigerator, freezer (-70° F to below), and freezer
(-20° to -70° F)
- Cardiac Catherization Lab
- In-house Endoscopy
- In-patient facilities
- MRI and Cat Scan
- Special programs include:
- Sleep Disorder Clinic
- Smoking Cessation Clinic
- Comprehensive AIDS/HIV Care
- Women Veterans Health Program
- Psychiatric Telemedicine
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Detoxification Units
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Unit
- Pulmonary Function testing
- Electronic patient databases (VISTA and File Manager)
- Local IRB meets monthly
