Clinical Trial Resource Center

Therapeutic Areas

Cardiology/Vascular Diseases
Dental and Oral Health
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology
Hepatology (Liver, Pancreatic, Gall Bladder)
Immunology
Infections and Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Musculoskeletal
Nephrology
Neurology
Nutrition and Weight Loss
Obstetrics/Gynecology (Women’s Health)
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, Throat)
Pediatrics/Neonatology
Pharmacology/Toxicology
Podiatry
Psychiatry/Psychology
Pulmonary/Respiratory Diseases
Rheumatology
Trauma (Emergency, Injury, Surgery)
Urology
Vaccines

Center Overview

West Virginia University's Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) is dedicated to providing the services and expertise that investigators need to conduct clinical trials and expand the growing body of biomedical knowledge. We offer a wide range of administrative and budgetary services to both clinical investigators and private industry.

Because West Virginia University is the state's primary research institution, the CTRU physicians represent a comprehensive range of specializations. Our staff has a sterling reputation for excellent patient care as well as timely delivery of valid and reliable data.

Unlike many other academic health centers, West Virginia University provides primary care services to a large, stable population of rural patients. WVU also provides secondary and tertiary care. Our patient population ensures a high degree of follow-up care and study completion that many other clinical trials facilities cannot offer.

Clinical Research Experience

WVU clinical investigators have a long history of conducting both industry sponsored and investigator initialized research. The CTRU was created nearly 10 years ago to help further the clinical research efforts in all therapeutic areas at WVU hospitals and the Health Sciences Center.

Since the CTRU represents the entire WVU Health Sciences Center, the CTRU is the only administrative unit you need to communicate with during the clinical trial process. With a single phone call or e-mail to the CTRU, you can request information about our investigators, programs, and resources and initiate the process of formalizing a clinical trial agreement.

The CTRU provides our industry clients with services throughout the entire clinical trial process. Some of our offerings are:

• Establishment of cost centers
• Oversight of the receipt and disbursement of funds
• Compilation of retrospective information on patient enrollment
• Data management
• Computer-based reconciliation of clinical expenses
• Computerized event monitoring to identify potential study participants as they are admitted to the hospital or seen in the outpatient clinics
• "Standard Contract Template" The template allows the modification and customization to fit the needs of a particular study.

Examples of Sponsors/CROs with which the CTRU is currently or has worked with in the past:

Facility Description

The CTRU is a part of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center (MBRCC) at West Virginia University's Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center (HSC) and serves all of the HSC. With more than one million square feet of classroom, laboratory, library, clinical, and office space, the HSC is West Virginia's flagship institution for health care, education, and research. The HSC has won national recognition for its innovative programs and commitment to raising the quality of health statewide.

Our Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in health care and biosciences. The degree programs offered by the HSC have developed a strong group of professionals prepared to meet the varied health care needs of the state and nation.

Clinical trials are conducted at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center (MBRCC) and the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center (HSC) at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Located in northern West Virginia, Morgantown is easily accessible from Pittsburgh, PA (77 miles) and Washington, DC (218 miles).

Investigator Experience

WVU clinical investigators represent the thought leaders in many specialized areas. Examples include: Oncology, Surgery, Cardiovascular Specialties, Neurology, Pulmonary, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Neonatology, Infectious Diseases, Behavioral Medicine, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics.

Staff Expertise

With over 100 years of combined nursing experience, all of our study coordinators are screened for a high commitment to quality clinical practice. These registered nurses work closely with West Virginia University's diverse faculty to ensure consistent, reliable care. They also handle submissions to the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB), a highly respected organization that ensures adherence to Federal standards and guidelines.

Patient Demographics

West Virginia University provides primary, secondary and tertiary care services to over 600,000 patients. Most of these patients are from rural communities and represent a stable population. Our patient population ensures a high degree of patient compliance that many other clinical trials facilities cannot offer.

Other Information

The CTRU is adept at helping clinical researchers understand and navigate WVU's clinical trials system. The three tracks that comprise the Health Sciences protocol, contract, and budget approval processes are:

• Institutional Review Board (IRB)- WVU maintains 2 local IRBs and each meets 1 time per month.
• Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)- works closely with the CTRU in contract development, budget negotiations and seeking all necessary administrative approvals
• Regulatory Documents

Contact Center

If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical trial there, please complete and send the email form below. A representative from the research center will then follow up with you.