Research Center Profile:
University of South Florida Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinical Research Unit
The University of South Florida Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Clinical Research Unit was established in 1977 to improve the
treatment of patients who suffer from asthma, allergic and
immunologic diseases. The Clinical Research Unit is a segment of
the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal
Medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
The Division is affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center,
James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital and the University
of South Florida Medical Clinics in Tampa. The Unit is also
affiliated with All Children’s Hospital and Bay Pines Veterans
Hospital, both in St. Petersburg.
The Unit provides quality research in a variety of clinical
areas which include the following: allergic conjunctivitis;
allergen immunotherapy; allergen skin testing; allergic rhinitis;
asthma; atopic eczema; bronchitis, acute and chronic; contact
dermatitis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; exercise induced
asthma; headache (migraine and tension); HIV disease and any of its
complications; immunodeficiency diseases; insect allergy;
intravenous immunoglobulin; osteoporosis; rheumatoid arthritis;
sinusitis, acute and chronic; temporomandibular joint disease; and
urticaria, acute and chronic; vasomotor rhinitis.
The USF Clinical Research Unit also participates in the
Division’s basic research programs. These programs focus on the
mechanisms which cause airway diseases with an intent to identify
not only potential genetic molecular markers for diagnosis of these
diseases, but also novel drug targets for the effective treatment
and possible cure of airway diseases. The Unit’s basic research
program has both an in vitro bronchoepithelial cell model and a rat
model to study the effects of allergens, irritants, and viruses on
bronchial tissue.
The USF Clinical Research Unit has conducted over 400 Phase II,
III and IV trials for more than 30 pharmaceutical firms and
contract research organizations which include the following: 3M;
Abbott; AstraZeneca, Inc.; Aventis; Bayer Corporation; Boehringer
Ingelheim; Bristol Myers Squibb; Clinical Trials Management
Services, Inc.; ClinTrials Research, Inc.; Covance; Dura
Pharmaceuticals; Forest Laboratories; Genetics Institute; Gilead
Sciences; Glaxo Wellcome, Inc.; Innovex; InSite Clinical Trials;
Integrated Therapeutics Group; International Medical Technical
Consultants, Inc.; Janssen; Lilly; McNeil; Merck & Co., Inc.;
Miles; Parexel; Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research; Pfizer;
Pharmaceutical Product Development; Pharmaceutical Research
Associates, Inc.; Respiratory Research Institute; Schering-Plough;
SmithKline Beecham; Upjohn; Wallace; and Wyeth-Ayerst; Dyax ,
Primary Immune.
The Unit has state-of-the-art equipment including pulmonary
function equipment with challenge capability, rhinoscopes,
rhinomanometer, and stadiometer. It also has computer technology,
including data entry capabilities, up to date laboratory equipment,
ECG machines, and a computerized patient database.
Richard F. Lockey, MD, Joy McCann Culverhouse
Professor in Allergy and Immunology, Professor of Medicine,
Pediatrics and Public Health; Director, Division of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology. Dr. Lockey has been the Director of Allergy
and Immunology since 1983. He is a graduate of Haverford College
and Temple University College of Medicine and completed his
training in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology at the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.
Roger W. Fox, MD, Associate Professor of
Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Fox is a graduate of St. Louis
University College of Medicine and completed his training in
Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology at the University of
South Florida.
Dennis K. Ledford, MD, Professor of Medicine;
Director of Laboratory and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Ledford
received his degree in medicine from the University of Tennessee.
He completed his fellowship in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
at New York University and completed his fellowship in Allergy and
Immunology at the University of South Florida. He also has an
engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Monroe J. King, DO, Clinical Assistant
Professor of Medicine. Dr. King is a graduate of Chicago College of
Osteopathy and completed his training at Pontiac Osteopathic
Hospital in Michigan. He is certified by the American Board of
Allergy and Immunology.
Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, FAAAAI, Professor of
Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Mohapatra
received his PhD from the Australian National University, Canberra.
He did his post-doctoral studies at the University of Bielefeld,
Germany. He was Research Associate at the McGill University,
Montreal and faculty (assistant professor, 1988-1991; associate
professor 1992-1995) at the Department of Immunology, University of
Manitoba, Canada.
Allergy and Immunology Fellows: 2 each year
Michelle Grandstaff, LPN, Clinical Research Administrator
Brooke Fimbel, BA, Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
Shirley McCullough, BS, Research Coordinator
Stephanie Merrell, Regulatory Coordinator
The University of South Florida Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
Clinical Research Unit is located in Tampa, Florida. It is one
block north of the University of South Florida’s main campus. Tampa
International Airport is located 15 miles to the southwest of
campus and easily accessible within 30 minutes via Interstates 4
and 275.
The Tampa Bay metropolitan area encompasses a four county area
with a total population of 2.2 million. Major cities include Tampa,
St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The Tampa Bay area has a varied
ethnic distribution which is easily accessible with minimal media
exposure. Patients for studies are also accessible through a 6,000
square foot clinic under the supervision of Drs. Lockey, Fox, and
Ledford. The clinic sees approximately 70 new patients with asthma
and allergic and immunologic diseases per week and up to 400
follow-up visits per week. In addition, all three physicians work
at the University of South Florida Medical Clinics where they
direct allergy and immunology clinics and an immunodefiency clinic
which includes HIV patients.
Michelle Grandstaff, LPN
Clinical Research Administrator
University of South Florida Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinical Research Unit
13801 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Suite 505
Tampa, FL 33613
USA
Phone: 813-631-4024
Fax: 813-631-4030
EMail: mgrandst@hsc.usf.edu
The following trial(s) are actively recruiting patients:
If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical
trial there, please complete and send the E-mail form below. A representative from
the research center will then follow up with you.
