Revitalized Regulatory Services Strengthen CCR

In FY23, the Center for Clinical Research (CCR) Regulatory Services Team was re-established to assist investigators with meeting essential regulatory activities, training, and general support to Feinberg research staff. Under the leadership of Ashley Bowman, MHA, the regulatory team consists of five regulatory coordinators who each oversee a variety of studies across departments within Feinberg. NUCATS regulatory study support allows for PIs and study teams to effectively screen and enroll patients across the Northwestern campus and Chicagoland area.

CCR continues to support investigators and study teams with three additional service lines, including Study Finance, Recruitment, and the NMH Clinical Research Unit. In FY23, CCR provided support to four schools at Northwestern and to 25 departments and divisions within the Feinberg School of Medicine.

Under the leadership of James Kim, the Financial Services team oversaw the intake and initiation of 50 new industry-sponsored studies in FY23. Mary Beth Blocher provided resources to the greater Feinberg research community on ClinicalTrials.gov compliance. This included new educational resources and enhanced, systematic reminders to study teams. Blocher and Anju Peters, MD, professor of Medicine, launched “Clinical Research 101,” an online training designed as an introduction to the basics of clinical research.

Peters also oversees the NMH CRU where Clinical trials were increasingly common in oncology. As part of inpatient mobile-nursing services in the NMH CRU, the CRU team successfully worked in FY23 to initiate recurring leadership meetings amongst key stakeholders in oncology inpatient units, conducted focus groups on process improvement, implemented new-RN training to CRU mobile visits, and introduced a collaboration guide to establish clear communication and roles. In total, the CRU assisted with 253 studies in FY23.