Overview

Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, an academic health science center providing services for Louisiana residents, received full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) in June 2009.

The Psychopharmacology Research Clinic operates within the University’s Department of Psychiatry. The goals of the Psychopharmacology Research Clinic are to provide patients with appropriate and compassionate care and to expand medical knowledge through research both in the lab and in a clinical setting. The blending of these specific goals demonstrates the unique character of an academic medical center.

Research Experience

The Psychopharmacology Research unit has been involved in clinical research for more than 20 years. We focus on phase 3, 3B/4 clinical trials. Our therapeutic areas of interest include:

Past study sponsors include:

Facility Description

The Psychopharmacology Research Clinic is operated by Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is located in the university’s School of Medicine. Outpatient studies are conducted in a self-contained research-dedicated clinic, providing easy access and parking for participants. Clinic facilities include

• Physician and coordinator offices
• Exam room
• Office space for monitoring CRAs (computer, fax, Xerox, phone)
• EKG machine
• Vital checks
• Lab with refrigerated centrifuge
• Refrigerator for medication
• -20° freezer
• Dry ice capabilities
• Specimen preparation area.

The Psychopharmacology Research Clinic is adjacent to the Biomedical Research Institute, a two-story 160,000-square-foot facility with 56 state-of-the-art research labs and one of only 54 Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Centers in the U.S.

Investigator Experience

Marc Colon, MD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Director of Forensic Services, LSUHSC-S
Board certified in psychiatry and neurology.

Mary Jo Fitz-Gerald, MD
Professor of Psychiatry
Board certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and addiction medicine.

Rita Horton, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Chairman, LSUHSC-S Department of Psychiatry
Director, Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic
Board Certified in psychiatry and  child and adolescent psychiatry.

Lee Stevens, MD
Clinical Professor
Director of Psychiatric Inpatient Child, Adolescent Services
Board certified in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.

Staff Expertise

Angela Benedetto
Clinical Research Recruiter & Outreach Coordinator, Psychopharmacology Research Clinic
MA, counseling psychology, Gonzaga University
BA, psychology, Texas A&M University Commerce
318.813.2073
Email: abened@lsuhsc.edu

Stephanie Lafitte Saunders,
CCRC, Psychopharmacology Research Clinic
MA, counseling and guidance, Louisiana Tech University
BA, psychology, Louisiana Tech University
318.813.2085
Email: ssaun1@lsuhsc.edu

Patient Demographics

The Shreveport-Bossier metropolitan area encompasses a population of more than 400,000. Statewide referrals from providers to LSU Health Shreveport represent a diverse cultural population size of approximately three million.

Other Information

Accessible by public transportation, the Psychopharmacology Research Clinic is conveniently located off Interstate 49 within 15 minutes of the Shreveport Regional Airport. Convenient and accessible parking.

Louisiana State University Health Shreveport operates a local IRB.