Staff Profile: Rose Broccolo, Regulatory Coordinator
As a regulatory coordinator at the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute, Rose Broccolo is one of many “behind the scenes” staff members who help research come to life.
“My favorite part of my job is getting to work with research teams on new and exciting investigations,” says Broccolo. “It’s cool to be a part of something that gives people hope for new treatments.”
Broccolo serves an important role in making sure research meets industry standards so that it can progress toward a translational impact.
“I work with the Institutional Review Board, study sponsors, and department study teams to make sure Northwestern’s research is staying in compliance with local and federal regulations,” says Broccolo. “Day-to-day it’s a lot of emailing and creating what are called IRB submissions so the review board can approve any changes made to the research studies.”
Broccolo came to NUCATS as a financial assistant before transitioning to regulatory coordinator with the support of Vic Caterina, regulatory manager at the Institute’s Center for Clinical Research. Since entering her current role, she has enjoyed acquiring the technical knowledge necessary to understanding research and regulatory practices.
My favorite part of my job is getting to work with research teams on new and exciting investigations. It’s cool to be a part of something that gives people hope for new treatments.”
Rose Broccolo, Regulatory Coordinator
“I remember starting as a regulatory coordinator and being blown away by how much information the other coordinators could remember off the top of their head without checking the training manual,” says Broccolo. “It seemed overwhelming! I feel like I now have reached that point, which gives me a great sense of pride.”
For Broccolo, a major part of being a regulatory coordinator means constantly educating yourself and adapting to informational changes.
“To do our jobs properly, we must stay up to date on all applicable rules and regulations,” she says. “University policies are updated quite often, even more in a pandemic, and thankfully they have regular training sessions. There is also a lot of collaboration among the regulatory team and part of that includes letting each other know when there are changes."
I did the Lares Trek to Macchu Picchu with my three best friends in the summer of 2019. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.”
The Wilmette native recently moved from Lincoln Park to Wicker Park with friends, and she’s taking advantage of everything her new neighborhood has to offer.
“There is so much to do. Walking down Division or Milwaukee, you can find so many cool restaurants and fun places to explore,” says Broccolo. “It also makes downtown very accessible with the blue line, as well as the Metra if I want to visit my parents in the suburbs.”
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Broccolo worked in alumni relations at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, where she also graduated high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theology from St. Louis University, and she is looking forward to starting a master’s degree this fall in human-computer interaction.
Broccolo loves spending time with friends and family, hiking, taking pottery classes, traveling, playing golf, and reading. With her adventurous streak, she has even traveled to Peru and hiked at an altitude of roughly 14,000 feet.
“I did the Lares Trek to Macchu Picchu with my three best friends in the summer of 2019,” says Broccolo. “It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.”
Written by Olivia Lloyd
