Therapeutic Areas

Cardiology/Vascular Diseases
Devices
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Immunology
Infections and Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Nutrition and Weight Loss
Obstetrics/Gynecology (Women’s Health)
Pulmonary/Respiratory Diseases
Sleep
Urology
Vaccines

Center Overview

Mission Statement

Diagnostics Research Group is a consortium of research facilities whose members conduct clinical research in their specific areas of therapeutic expertise. Our mission is to become the industry leader of independent clinical research sites by
1) performing at the highest levels of integrity and competence as judged by our subjects and sponsors
2) investing in the development and maintenance of competencies and productivity of all members of our company team
3) following Good Clinical Practices in all instances and
4) offering quality studies to diverse subject populations. We perform clinical trials involving pharmaceuticals and/or device testing.

Background

Diagnostics Research Group was formed twelve years ago. The private practice has been established for 30 years.

Clinical Research Experience

Our Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Charles Andrews, is a Certified Principal Investigator (CPI). Additionally, eight of our staff members are Certified Clinical Research Coordinators (CCRC).

Our facility has been involved in research for twelve years. Our physicians have been involved in clinical research for thirty-one years.

We conduct phase I, II, III, and IV trials.

We have participated in trials for the following Pharmaceutical Companies:

We have participated in trials for the following Contract Research Organizations:

• AAI
• Advanced Biologics
• Allied Research
• Cato
• CTMS
• Concentrics
• Covance
• Criterium
• I3 Research
• ICON
• IHC Research
• Ingenix
• Integrium
• ITGI
• Kendle
• MDS
• Medex
• Medpace
• Novum
• Omnicare
• PPD
• PRA
• Paragon Biomedical
• Parexel
• Pharmanet
• Pharmaseek
• Pharm-Olam
• Premier
• Quintiles
• Research Point
• Synteract, Inc.
• TKL Research

Our center specializes in clinical trials for:

Facility Description

We are conveniently located in the Texas Neurosciences Institute in the South Texas Medical Center. We offer on-site complete pulmonary function testing, Methacholine challenge, oximetry, chest x-rays, allergy testing, nasal allergen provocation, phlebotomy, electrocardiograms and women’s health care (paps, pelvic). We can also test for Bone Mineral Density. Within the Neurosciences Institute, there is a complete imaging center. We have two satellite clinics in Gonzales and Uvalde, rural towns in other counties. We are affiliated with Biogenics Research Chamber, an environmental chamber for testing of up to 50 allergic subjects at a time.

Investigator Experience

Charles P. Andrews, MD, CPI
Medical Director & Principal Investigator
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Andrews attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his training in pulmonary medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Prior to entering private practice he taught at University Hospital and Audie Murphy V.A. Hospital in San Antonio. He is a reviewer for two pulmonary journals. He is a member of the Drug Information Association, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians. Dr. Andrews is a Certified Principal Investigator (CPI).

Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine

Investigator:

• Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Allergy/Asthma Studies of Antihistamine
• Antibiotic Study of the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia
• Antibiotic Studies of the Treatment of Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
• Asthma Studies
• Asthma with Methacholine Challenge
• Asthma/COPD
• Cholesterol Studies
• Comparative Antibiotic Study in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis
• Complicated Hypertension Studies
• Complicated Urinary Tract Infection
• COPD Studies
• Diagnosis of Lung Carcinoma
• Diabetes
• Dyslipidemia
• Dyspepsia Studies
• Emphysema Studies
• Etiologic Studies of Interstitial Lung Disease
• Hyperlipidemia
• Hypertension
• Intravenous Sedation
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Mountain Cedar Allergic Rhinitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Perennial Allergic Rhinitis
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Ragweed Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
• Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
• Severe Sepsis
• Spring Allergic Rhinitis
• Stress Urinary Incontinence Study
• Vaccine Studies

Sub-Investigator:

• Inhaled Insulin
• Insomnia
• Parkinson’s Disease Study
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

John R. Holcomb, MD, CPI
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. Holcomb attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his pulmonary training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He was an attending physician at Brooke Army Medical Center. He is a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and The American College of Chest Physicians. He is a Certified Principal Investigator. Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine

Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine.

Investigator:Antibiotic/Pneumonia study, Bronchoscopy in Chronic Bronchitis study, COPD studies, Chronic Constipation studies, Hypertension studies, Irritable bowel syndrome studies.

Sub-investigator: Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis, Allergy/Asthma Studies, Antibiotic Study of the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Phase IIa Asthma Study,Cholesterol Studies, Complicated Hypertension Study, Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Diabetes, Dyspepsia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Study, Osteoarthritis Studies, Osteoporosis Study, Parkinson’s Disease Study, Pneumonia/Flu Vaccine Study, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Studies, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis studies, Shingles Vaccine., Stress Urinary Incontinence Study.

Randall C. Bell, MD
A graduate from the University of Kansas, Dr. Bell attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. He completed his pulmonary training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Prior to entering private practice he taught at the Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society. Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine. Investigator: Study of Almitrine bismesylate to Increase Arterial Oxygenation, Inhaled Insulin Study, Acute Bronchitis Study, Asthma Study, Allergy/Asthma Study, Severe Sepsis Study.

Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine.

Investigator: Study of Almitrine bismesylate to Increase Arterial Oxygenation, Inhaled Insulin Study, Acute Bronchitis Study, Asthma Study, Allergy/Asthma Study, Severe Sepsis Study.

Sub-investigator: Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis, Allergy/Asthma Studies, ,Antibiotic Study of the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia, , Phase IIa Asthma Study, COPD Studies, Complicated Hypertension Study, Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Dyspepsia, Insomnia study, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Study, Osteoarthritis Studies, Osteoporosis Study, Parkinson’s Disease Study, Pneumonia/Flu Vaccine Study, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Study, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Studies, Shingles Vaccine Study, Stress Urinary Incontinence Study.

Nora L. Walker, MD
A graduate from Rice University in Houston, Dr. Walker attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She completed her pulmonary training at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She is the Director of SleepWalker.

Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine.

Investigator: Insomnia Study.

Sub-investigator: Allergy/Asthma Study, Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis, Antibiotic Study of the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Asthma Studies, Cholesterol Studies, COPD Studies, Complicated Hypertension Study, Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Diabetes Studies, Dyspepsia, Hypertension studies, Irritable bowel syndrome studies, Osteoarthritis Study, Osteoporosis Study, Pneumonia/Flu Vaccine Study, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Studies, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Severe Sepsis Study, Shingles Vaccine Study, Stress Urinary Incontinence Study

Clinical Expertise in the following areas:

Staff Expertise

Our clinical research staff consists of Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses and Respiratory Therapists. The clinical research staff is trained to conduct trials within the Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Each clinical research coordinator is experienced in pulmonary function testing, allergy testing, ECG’s, venipuncture, and basic cardiac life support. The Registered Nurses also participate in IV infusion studies.

Hilda Pomroy, RRT, CCRC
Director of Clinical Operations

Brita Andrews, RN, MSN, CCRC
Chief Executive Officer

Laura Ramirez, RN, BSN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Lisa Lopez, LVN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Kathy Canty, RN, BSN, BA, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Colleen Malady, RN, MSN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Priscilla Villarreal, RN, BSN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Kathleen Smith, LVN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Kat Steel, RN, AND, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Cristina Morales, BSBA
Director of Subject Recruitment

Norma Flores
Subject Recruiter

Laura Degollado
Subject Recruiter

Veronica Earnest
Regulatory Specialist

Ofelia Rodriguez, MA
Medical Assistant

Renee Vasquez
Research Assistant

Tiffany Mapalo
Research Assistant

Tina Ramirez
Research Assistant

Denice Hernandez, BA
Business Development

Carlos Cervantes, RRT
Clinical Manager, Pulmonary Dynamics

Patricia Miranda, BBA
Accountant

Margie Longoria
Receptionist

Patient Demographics

The San Antonio metropolitan area population is 1.5 million and has a referral area of 3.5 million. Fifty percent of the population is Hispanic. A large proportion of our patients are adult seniors due to the retired military population. San Antonio is conducive to balanced research because of its large and diverse population.

Our adult private practice has over 45,000 patient encounters per year, allowing rapid patient enrollment and study start-up. We are experienced in recruitment of study subjects.

Other Information

Special Skills

• Experienced in Methacholine challenge
• Experienced in nasal allergen provocation
• Experienced in remote data entry.
• Active subject database for patient recruitment.
• Experienced media and marketing consultant.

At Diagnostics Research Group our commitment is to complete clinical studies in a timely and cost-effective manner while assuring safety and adherence to regulatory guidelines.

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.