Mission Statement

Allergy Diagnostics is one of four divisions that comprise Diagnostics Research Group. Our primary objective is to conduct clinical research in accordance with the International Conference of Harmonization guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. 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 quality clinical trials involving pharmaceuticals and/or device testing. Our focus is on the care of the adult with Seasonal and Perennial Allergic Rhinitis.

Background

Six Board-Certified Pulmonologists and Internal medicine Specialists founded Allergy Diagnostics in 2002. The private practice has been established for 25 years. Allergy Diagnostics is affiliated with Diagnostics Research Group, a consortium of research facilities whose members conduct clinical research in their specific areas of therapeutic expertise.

Our Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Charles Andrews is a Certified Principal Investigator (CPI). Additionally, five of our staff members are Certified Clinical Research Coordinators (CCRC).
Our practice has been involved in research for eight years. Our physicians have been involved in clinical research for twenty-seven years.

We conduct phase II, III, and IV trials.

We have participated in trials for the following Pharmaceutical Companies:

Abbott Adams Alcon Alkermes Almirall Altana Amphastar Apotex AstraZeneca Aventis Bayer Boehringer Ingelheim Bristol Meyers Centocor CoTherix Dey Eisai Encysive Epix Evolutec FAES Pharma GlaxoSmithKline

Guilford Inspire ITGI Intermune Lilly Medicinova Merck Morton Grove Novartis Novum OrthoMcNeil Peninsula Pharmacia Pfizer Roche Schering-Plough Sepracor Skye Pharmaceuticals West Pharmaceuticals Wyeth

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

• AAI
• Advanced Biologics
• Allied
• CTMS
• Concentrics
• Covance
• Criterium
• i3 Research
• ICON
• IHC Research
• Ingenix
• Kendle
• MDS
• Medex
• Medpace
• Omnicare
• PPD
• PRA
• Paragon Biomedical
• Parexel
• Pharmanet
• Pharmaseek
• Quintiles
• Research Point
• TKL Research

Our center specializes in clinical trials for:

• Abdominal Pain
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Allergy Medications
• Antibiotics
• Antihistamines
• Antihypertensives
• Asthma
• BCP’s
• Bronchodilators
• Cholesterol
• COPD
• Complicated Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Diagnosis of Carcinoma
• Dyslipidemia
• Dyspepsia
• Edontoxin Antagonists
• HRT
• Hyperlipidemia
• Hypertension
• Inhaled and Nasal Corticosteroids
• Intravenous sedation
• Medabolic syndrome
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Respiratory Medications
• Skin Infections
• Sleep Medications
• Smoking Cessation
• Sputum/Cytology
• Stress Urinary Incontenence Medications
• Vaccines
• Vaginitis

We are conveniently located in the Texas Neurosciences Institute in the South Texas Medical Center. We offer on-site complete pulmonary function testing, oximetry, chest x-rays, allergy testing, methacholine challenge, nasal allergen provocation, phlebotomy, holter monitors and electrocardiograms. Within the Neurosciences Institute, there is a complete imaging center. We have two satellite clinics in Gonzales and Uvalde, rural towns in other counties.

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 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 Studies of the Treatment of Community Acquire Pneumonia
• Antibiotic Studies of the Treatment of Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
• Asthma Studies
• Asthma with Methacholine Challenge
• Asthma / COPD Studies
• Cholesterol Studies
• Comparative Antibiotic Study in the Treatment of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis
• Complicated Hypertension Study
• Complicated Urinary Tract Infection
• COPD Studies
• Diagnosis of Lung Carcinoma
• Diabetes
• Dyslipidemia
• Dyspepsia
• Emphysema
• Etiologic Study 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
• Severe Sepsis
• Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
• Spring Allergic Rhinitis
• Stress Urinary Incontinence
• Vaccine Studies

Sub-Investigator:

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

John R. Holcomb, MD
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.

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

Investigator: Antibiotic/Pneumonia study.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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

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, 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,

Charles J. Burch, MD
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. Burch attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. During his medical residency there, he was Chief Resident. His Pulmonary and Critical Care training were also at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

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

Investigator: Asthma studies, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension studies.

Sub-Investigator: Antibiotic study of the treatment of Community Acquired Pneumonia, Asthma/Allergy Study, Cholesterol Studies, COPD Studies, Diabetes Studies, Dyspepsia Study, Hypertension Study, Osteoporosis Study, Pneumonia/Flu Vaccine Study, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Studies, Shingles Vaccine Study, Stress Urinary Incontinence Study,

Jairo A. Melo, MD
A graduate of Universidad Pontifica Bolilvariana Medical School in Medellin, Columbia, Dr. Melo completed Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Critical Care training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Melo has a special interest in sleep medicine. He is the author of a number of peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of pulmonary-critical care medicine.

Sub-Investigator: Asthma/Allergy Study, Asthma studies, COPD studies, Complicated Urinary Tract Infection study, Diabetes Study, High Cholesterol Study, Osteoporosis Study, Pneumonia/Flu Vaccine Study, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Pulmonary hypertension studies, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis studies, Shingles Vaccine Study.

Pamela Bonham, FNP
A graduate of UTHSC, Pam holds a Master of Science in Nursing and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Pam works with Diagnostics Research Group and in our private practice.

Board Certification: Family Nurse Practitioner

Sub-investigator: Abdominal Pain study, Acute Exacerbation COPD study, Asthma studies, Asthma Allergy Study, Cholesterol Studies, COPD Studies, Diabetes Study, Dyslipidemia Study, Hyperlipidemia Study, Hypertension Studies, Irritable Bowel Study, Pneumonia Vaccine Study, Osteoarthritis Studies, Pulmonary Fibrosis Study, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Studies, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Studies, Shingles Vaccine Study

Clinical Expertise in the following areas:

Acute Lung Injury Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Adult Respiratory Failure Airway Equipment Evaluation Allergic Rhinitis Allergic Sinusitis Acute Asthma (exercise induced) Allergy/Asthma Asthma Bacterial Vaginitis Birth Control Bronchitis Bronchodilator Bronchoalveolar Lavage Bronchoscopic Biopsy Bronchoscopy Chronic Bronchitis Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Common Cold Critical Care Medicine Diabetes Dyslipidemia Dyspepsia Emphysema Exercise Testing Herpes I / II HRT HTN Hyperlipidemia Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Influenza Interstitial Lung Disease Intravenous Sedation

Lung Cancer Detection Lung Malignancies Mechanical Ventilation Metabolic Syndrome Methacholine challenge Mountain Cedar Allergic Rhinitis Mucolytic Agents Nasal Allergen Provocation Obesity Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Perennial Allergic Rhinitis Pneumonia, Community Acquired Pneumonia, Nosocomial Pulmonary Function Testing Pulmonary Edema Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Pulmonary Fibrosis Respiratory Failure Respiratory Viral Diseases Rhinitis (Allergic) Sarcoidosis Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Sexually Transmitted Diseases Shock Sinusitis, allergic and infectious Skin Infections Sleep disorders/Sleep Apnea Spring Allergic Rhinitis Urinary Stress Incontinence Vaccines Ventilator Weaning Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

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
Clinical Research Manager

Brita Andrews, RN, MSN, CCRC
Chief Executive Officer

Laura Ramirez, RN, BSN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Lisa Lopez, LVN
Clinical Research Coordinator

Kathy Canty, RN, BSN, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator

Colleen Malady, RN, MSN
Clinical Research Coordinator

Julia Adcock, RN, BSN
Clinical Research Coordinator

Priscilla Villarreal, RN, BSN
Clinical Research Coordinator

Kathleen Smtih, LCN, CCRC
Clinical Research Coordinator

Michelle Alvarado, LVN
Clinical Research Coordinator

Cristina Morales
Director of Subject Recruitment

Kristal Cooks
Subject Recruiter

Norma Flores
Subject Recruiter

Veronica Williams
Regulatory Specialist

Ofelia Rodriguez, MA
Medical Assistant

Priscilla Ramirez, CNA
Research Assistant

Burcu Cotter
Research Assistant

Cheryl Holcomb
Research Assistant

Patricia Ramos, BBA
Accountant

Margie Longoria
Receptionist