Center Overview

Metabolic Research Institute, Inc. (“MRI”), is a private Clinical Research Company located in West Palm Beach, FL, dedicated to the advancement of science and improvement of quality of life by providing clinical research study services to pharmaceutical sponsors and medical device manufacturers.

By acting as an intermediary for the pharmaceutical and biotech community to access qualified subjects, we are able to provide the opportunity to explore promising new therapies while granting access to these experimental therapies to the people who need them. We are committed to an ethical, innovative, caring and professional environment for our sponsors, investigative team, and study participants.

Our mission at the Metabolic Research Institute is to provide our patients and sponsors with the highest quality of clinical diabetes research available in today’s medical professional environment. We are committed to delivering efficient and timely research data, while focusing on strict adherence to protocol guidelines.

The benefits of participating include study medication, examinations, and laboratory tests, all at no expense to you. In addition, some clinical trials reimburse participants for time and travel.

MRI’s certified clinical research coordinators and associates include nurses, registered dieticians and certified diabetic educators, many of whom are multilingual.

As a group, they have over 30 years of combined experience in all phases of clinical studies, and are proficient in data entry.

Drs. Kaye and Horowitz, the Co-Directors of MRI, are recognized experts in their field of medicine, and continue to lecture locally and nationally on a wide variety of topics in the field of endocrinology and metabolism.

Research Experience

Our focus and expertise at Metabolic Research Institute is to provide our patients and sponsors with the highest quality of clinical research trials.

Our principal investigators and sub-investigators are all board-certified endocrinologists and/or nephrologists, with extensive backgrounds in both clinical and academic medicine, as well as research.

As specialists, our expertise with metabolic and endocrine disorders, combined with our knowledge of the pharmaceutical literature, enable us to accurately assess and document the importance and relevancy of adverse events.

From developing a new diabetes treatment to a new heart disease treatment, Metabolic Research Institute’s areas of focus include:

• Diabetes Mellitus (Types I & II)
• Diabetes-related complications, including Nephropathy, Neuropathy and
• Retinopathy
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Growth Disorders
• Lipid Disorders
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid Disease
• Hirsutism
• Impotency
• Medical Devices
• Menopause
• Women’s Health Issues

Facility Description

Facility Information

• Located next to Good Samaritan Hospital
• Designated Monitor Room with telephone, copier and high speed wireless internet
• Secure/locked drug room for study medication: ambient and refrigerated
• Refrigerators: 2 refrigerators for refrigerated study medication
• Fully equipped large capacity laboratory:
  • › Centrifuge (3)
  • › Refrigerator and -20 freezer
  • › -70 freezer
• Examination rooms: (4)
• ECG: 12-Lead
• Physicians on site: (4)

Investigator Experience

William Kaye, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine;Nephrology;Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Medical Education: Brown University
Fellowship Training: New York Hospital Cornell University Medical Center

Dr. Kaye received his medical degree from Brown University where he was elected to the Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society. Following his internal medicine training at Brown and its affiliated hospitals, Dr. Kaye completed a fellowship at Cornell University Medical Center at New York Hospital and the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He subsequently joined the faculty of the Harvard University Medical School where he served as a consultant to the prestigious Joslin Diabetes Center and the New England Deaconess / Beth Israel Hospital in Boston.

Barry S. Horowitz, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine;Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
Medical Education: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Fellowship Training: Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York

Dr. Horowitz graduated from Cornell University with distinction in all subjects and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He subsequently received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Horowitz completed both his internal medicine residency and fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. During his fellowship, Dr. Horowitz conducted research in several areas of endocrinology, including cholesterol metabolism, osteoporosis and diabetes. He has written several articles that have been published in medical journals and has co-authored a chapter on diabetes and cholesterol in a major medical textbook. He continues to participate in research studies and is co-director of The Metabolic Research Institute in West Palm Beach.

Morolake Amole, M.D.
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine;Endocrinology

Dr Amole received her undergraduate degree from University of Miami and went on to complete her masters of science in Biomedical Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. She obtained her medical education from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN . Residency training was at the University of South Florida. She completed her fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville where she participated in research on a variety of subjects including continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and medical education.

Staff Expertise

Illiana Ladd, Chief Financial Officer and Human Resources Manager
Illiana has been a member of the Metabolic Research Institute Team since early 2012. She has an extensive background in Administrative and Office Management. She currently serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Human Resources Manager but has also worked in various other aspects of the business. Illiana not only meets but surpasses sponsor timeline requirements and maintains efficient communication between our site and the sponsor/CRO and always puts the patient’s best interests first in any task she undertakes.

Meilyn Saez, Clinical Operations Manager
Meilyn Saez comes to Metabolic Research Institute as our new Clinical Operations Manager. Meilyn is a Clinical Research Coordinator with 10 years of clinical research experience in Allergy & Immunology field. Meilyn has completed multiple certifications beyond GCP, including NIH Protecting Human Research Participants, IATA, IV certification, RMA and others. She is an excellent team leader. Meilyn ensures that investigational staff and study procedures are completed from start to finish according to FDA and ICH GCP guidelines while maintaining high quality assurance and subject safety.

MRI Clinical Team

Cossett Allegue – Clinical Research Coordinator
Cossett is a Certified Medical Assistant and Clinical Research Coordinator who has over 5 years of experience working in clinical research. Her research experience is in COPD, Asthma, Fibroids, Endometriosis, and Diabetes.

Charles Santamaria – Clinical Research Coordinator 
Charles recently joined Metabolic Research Institute as a Clinical Research Coordinator. He is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University earning his BA in Health Sciences, and also completed a Master’s level program with Clinical Research Fastrack, where he became trained and knowledgeable in the key principles of clinical research, such as GCP, GDP, 21CFR, and much more. Charles aims to be as proficient as possible, focusing on quality services and patient/subject safety while maintaining a professional and friendly demeanor.

Sandy Diazgranados- Clinical Research Coordinator
Sandy recently joined Metabolic Research Institute, Inc. as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Sandy is an RMA with 16 years’ experience in the medical field with IV/phlebotomy certifications. She’s experienced in clinical trials on participants with Immunodeficiency. Sandy is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) including NIH Protecting Human Research Participants and IATA.

Alayzah Garcia – Clinical Research Coordinator 
Alayzah earned a BA in Psychology with a focus on Experimental Research and is pursuing a PhD. She has worked on infant development studies with her Professor at Florida Atlantic University, and aspires to open her own research facility in the future focusing on the study of Life Span Development.

Briana Vega – Clinical Research Assistant
Briana earned an AA in Biology and is continuing her studies to become a Nurse Practitioner. She graduated on the Presidents List as well as being a proud member of Phi Theta Kappa. She has been working in various industries as a leader for many years. She aspires to one day save lives for a living and have her own practice.

Martha Pittsley – Clinical Research Assistant / Recruiter
Martha is a legal assistant who has over 10 years of experience in the allergy and immunology field. She is also bilingual. Her vast experience will be an invaluable addition to our team.

MRI Administrative Team

Shelly Dobson, US Military Veteran, Regulatory Specialist
Shelly has been with Metabolic Research Institute since 2007 and has over 15 years of experience in several aspects of conducting Phase I-IV of Clinical Trials, including Recruitment, Community Outreach Regulatory and Administrative Responsibilities. Shelly‘s knowledge is an integral part of our organization and she is a key resource for many of our team members.

Mercedes Carswell, Licensed Practical Nurse and Certified Medical Assistant/ Phlebotomist

Mercedes is a Florida Native who has recently joined Metabolic Research Institute Inc. with the skills and qualifications with more than 16 years of experience in the medical field. She has additional experience in Laboratory Coordinator and Specialty field with General Surgery. Mercedes, who is currently pursing on working in the field with continuing education.

Other Information

Metabolic Research Institute uses Central IRB.