EXCEED THE SPACEPROVIDED, This is a competitive renewal application for the Lowell P. Weicker Jr. General Clinical Research Center(GCRC), which was established at the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC) in December 1993.The GCRC is the key Center that supports and facilitates patient-oriented and translational research inmedicine and dentistry at UCHC and its affiliates. It is chiefly an outpatient unit (>90%), in keeping withcontemporary needs and pattems of use, but it also facilitates in-patient clinical research at UCHC and itsaffiliated hospitals. The GCRC provides an outstanding infrastructure with research nursing and studyadministration; core laboratory services, with increasing emphasis on genomics and molecular techniques;informatics; and biostatistics. It also provides excellent training opportunities in patie _;t-oriented research formedical and dental (and other) students, residents, fellows, and faculty. New ventures include furtherexpansion of training, especially for students in the Medical Scientist Training Program, full implementationof data safety and monitoring plans by a research subject advocate, and establishment of a behavioralassessment core. This renewal application requests 5 years of support for 65 research protocols, compared to 36 in the lastapplication. The emphasis in this application continues to be on studies involving collaboration andinteract/ons among basic scientists and clinical investigators, particularly in the application of new methodsof molecular biology and human genomics to the study of the pathogenesis and management of disease.The protocols in this renewal application cover a wide range, including studies on 1) alcohol and drug abuse,2) osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, 3) chronic hepatitis C and other liver diseases, 4) neuro/ogicchanges associated with HIV, 5) neurologic complications of tick-borne infections, 6) genetics ofschizophrenia, 7) pathogenesis of heart failure, 8) immunotherapy of cancer, 9) oral mucositis in bonemarrow transplant patients, 10) treatment of scleroderma, as well as other research areas. The GCRC hasbecome a major center for training. GCRC staff have refined the introductory course on methods of clinicalresearch, developed a new course for training research coordinators, and now offer medical studentelectives. GCRC leaders and investigators have served as outstanding role models and mentors for juniorinvestigators (CAP's, K-23 awardees and women's health scholars). UCHC continues to make a substantialcommitment to support the GCRC by providing funding and infrastructure. Moreover, additional space hasbeen provided to allow for expansion of our facilities. The UCHC GCRC has shown robust growth in clinicalresearch activity and productivity. The proposed research will continue to enhance our understanding ofpathogenesis and increase our ability to treat conditions that affect large numbers of Americans and otherpeoples throughout the world.
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