General Description

The Lowell P. Weicker General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut was funded by the National Center for Research Resources in December of 1993 and its current facility was opened in June of 1994. The GCRC is primarily an outpatient center, but also supports inpatient studies in the University of Connecticut's John Dempsey Hospital. The major goal of the GCRC is to carry out National Institute of Health (NIH) supported clinical research protocols. Many of these projects represent the application of basic science discoveries to clinical problems. The center is also used for studies supported by foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and companies developing diagnostic tests and devices.

The studies are carried out by faculty at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine located at the Health Center and at a number of major affiliated hospitals including Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and New Britain General Hospital.

Program Direction

The Principal Investigator of the center is Bruce Koeppen, M.D., Ph.D. The Program Director is Henry Kranzler, MD, Professor of Psychiatry. The Associate Program Directors are Lawrence Raisz, MD, Professor of Medicine; Anne Kenny, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; and Cheryl Oncken, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine.

Services

The facilities of the GCRC include 6 patient rooms, a treatment room, a consultation room and a computer center (Informatics Core) as well as offices for the staff. The Core Laboratory of the GCRC is fully equipped to carry out immunoassays and analyses of DNA and RNA using molecular biology techniques. Oversight of the Center is provided by a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and all protocols are reviewed by a planning team within the GCRC before being submitted to the SAC. The center currently employs a research staff of 25 who provide administrative and fiscal services, nursing and other support personnel to work with clinical investigators in carrying out protocols. The biostatistician and the informatics core director are available on a consultant basis to assist with protocol development, computer systems, and data analysis and management.

Training and Education

The GCRC is actively engaged in training new investigators. There is currently one Clinical Associate Physicians (CAP). A course on Prinicples of Clinical Research is provided for advanced residents, fellows and junior faculty at the Health Center by the GCRC staff and other faculty. Medical students rotate through the GCRC on special projects.