Overview

Coastal Carolina Research Center (CCRC) is a dedicated research facility located in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., which is within the greater Charleston metro area. We were founded in 1997 and are the proud recipients of the Charleston Small Business of the Year award for 2000. We provide access to the clinical research process for thousands of Charleston Lowcountry citizens who are interested in volunteering and participating in clinical trials and research studies that primarily focus on outpatient studies in multiple therapeutic areas and diseases.

CCRC has established a reputation in the industry for defensible data and high, rapid enrollment. Our site conducts studies in multiple therapeutic areas that are amenable to our existing research population and allow us to gain further interest from volunteers in the community through strategic recruitment and advertising. For these trials we utilize a core group of physicians of various specialists who serve as PIs and sub-investigators. Dr. Cynthia B. Strout serves as our medical director and is a full-time research physician. CCRC's physicians are very dedicated and believe in extensive patient interaction in the trials they oversee.

Most Compelling Opportunity

To replace the public’s fear and misconception of CCRC’s work in clinical research, with a full understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the positive impact trial results have in the lives of participants and the world at large.

Research Experience

CCRC conducts trials in phases 2, 3 and 3b/4.

Our center has conducted studies in the following therapeutic areas:

We have worked with the following sponsors:

We have also worked with the following CRO's:

Facility Description

The Charleston area is a popular destination due to its mild climate and historic charm. It is the fastest growing metro area in South Carolina with a diverse population that has a positive attitude towards clinical research. Charleston offers beautiful beaches, championship golf, world-class restaurants, and a wide variety of conveniently located hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

CCRC's office is located in "beautiful" Mt. Pleasant and is about five minutes away from the Cooper River Bridge, which crosses over into "historic" Charleston, S.C. This office is readily accessible (five to ten minutes) to two barrier islands, Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island, which are among the nicer beaches on the East Coast. This main office is within 15 minutes of the Charleston International Airport.

Facility Description

Mt. Pleasant Facility

Equipment

• Freezers (-70° and -20°)
• Two study refrigerators
• Refrigerated centrifuge
• Two centrifuges
• Climate-controlled, secure drug storage
• Two ECG machines (trans-telephonic interpretation capability)
• Stadiometer
• Calibrated weigh scales (digital and analog)
• Two cholestechs screeners (free health screenings)
• Hemoglobin A1C testing
• Microscope
• High-speed DSL internet access
• Wireless internet technology
• Analog lines for data transmission
• PC or laptops for all staff
• X-ray access
• MRI/CT access
• DEXA access
• Sleep lab (PSG) access
• Pulmonary function testing access
• Lung diffusion testing access
• Theorem
• TKL Research
• UBC (United Bioscience)
• US Micron
• Worldwide Clinical Trials

Investigator Experience

Dr. Cynthia Strout is Coastal Carolina Research Center’s medical director. Dr. Strout is a certified research professional through ACRP/APPI and has 16 years of research experience. She leads our investigator staff which has a combined 50 years of research experience.

Investigator areas of experience

• Primary care
• Family practice
• Internal medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious disease
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• OB/GYN
• Opthalmology
• Psychiatry
• Neurology
• Urology
• Pediatric

Please contact CCRC for details or check out our website.

Staff Expertise

Nancy Dinsmore, RN
President and co-founder
17 years of research experience.

Nathan Morton
Director
More than 10 years of research experience.

Additional staff

• Nine study coordinators (including three RNs)
• Two assistant coordinators
• Three recruitment specialists
• One retention specialist
• One regulatory coordinator
• Two data entry specialists
• Two laboratory personnel
• One dietician
• One diabetic educator
• Two administration personnel

Patient Demographics

The Charleston area is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. The population is 63 percent white, 35 percent African American and two percent other. Within the Charleston metro population of 600,000, there is a core of informed, experienced study patients. Charleston is the "medical hub" of the lower part of South Carolina due to the Medical University of South Carolina. Our patient population includes pediatric, adolescent and adult patients, plus a burgeoning elderly population. In July 2006, AARP published that Charleston was among the five best U.S. cities for retirees to live in.

Volunteer Database

CCRC currently uses Clinasyst as our clinical trials management system. Within this confidential database we maintain the names of more than 22,000 Lowcountry citizens who have either participated in a clinical trial or have submitted interest in volunteering for clinical trials with CCRC.

This database will allow us to query within minutes by age, gender, ethnic group and medical diagnosis/history to allow for quick feasibility surveys. Our database closely resembles the general demographics of the Charleston metro area and we intend to continue to seek clinical study opportunities that would benefit our entire population.

Our research database demographic breaks down as follows:

Gender

• Female: 57 percent
• Male: 43 percent

Ethnicity

• Caucasion: 70 percent
• African American: 25 percent
• Other: 5 percent

Age

• < 17 years of age – recruitment provided by pediatric investigators
• 18 to 29: 10 percent
• 30 to 39: 13 percent
• 40 to 49: 21 percent
• 50 to 59: 26 percent
• 60 to 69: 20 percent
• > 70 years: 10 percent

Other Information

• CCRC can utilize and has worked with 13 different central IRBs.
• CCRC is experienced with 20 different electronic data capture systems, nine different IVRS systems, 11 different central labs, three eDiary vendors and six central recruitment vendors.
• CCRC has established a reputation for being an excellent late-add-on site.
• CCRC typically meets or exceeds enrollment goals.
• CCRC can usually complete regulatory documents and contract review within 48 hours.