Services
The Clinical and Translational Research Unit provides a wide selection of services, personnel, equipment and space for researchers to plan, develop, conduct and complete their research. Research nurse and phlebotomist support may be provided at the unit or outside the unit for studies conducted on the main campus or in community hospitals and clinics.
Provides investigators with experienced certified clinical research nurses and phlebotomists, research coordinators and space (3,600 sq.ft) for research with human subjects. The CTRU has three outpatient research rooms, phlebotomy/vitals area, private rooms with computers for consenting study subjects and completing online questionnaires. In addition, a large conference room with video conferencing capabilities is available for research team or group study subject meetings. Research staff may provide support services outside of the CTRU throughout the university, local community and state. The unit supports REDCap for research data capture and management.
Recruitment Services: The CTRU has a volunteer database of over 1,000 local individuals for recruiting into studies and can provide guidance on other recruitment methods. Screening Services provide trained personnel to recruit study participants as well as complete telephone screenings of individuals to determine basic study eligibility and invitation to schedule the initial study visit.
The laboratory is fully equipped to process and store blood and other study samples. Samples may be stored at the unit or shipped to labs for analysis. The laboratory is equipped with refrigerated centrifuges, refrigerator, freezers (-20° C & -80° C), and analytical balances. Routine biomedical assays are performed at Piedmont Athens Regional Lab Outreach (examples of lab pricing: glucose: $2.22, lipid panel: $2.96, hs-CRP: $5.30, HbA1C: $5.53). Specialized biomedical and genetic assays are sent to UGA or Emory Core Facilities, commercial laboratories, or to investigator/collaborator labs as needed. Point-of-care testing may be done on-site as needed.
The unit is equipped with exercise treadmills and a stairclimber. Heart rate monitors are available for study subjects to wear during exercise studies. A metabolic measurement system (ParvoMedics TrueOne 2400) is available for cardiopulmonary stress testing, indirect calorimetry, and maximal O2 consumption measurements.
The unit supports study meal preparation and controlled study diets and includes a full-size refrigerator and freezer, small appliances and tools for food preparation (e.g., microwave, digital food scale, blender, etc.), along with a storage area for food. The unit also collaborates with a registered dietitian nutritionist through the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance to formulate study diets and conduct meal preparation.
The unit provides equipment for various anthropometric measurements including body composition using bioelectrical impedance (InBody 770 Body Composition Analyzer). Collaborators on the main campus can provide equipment to measure bone density and bone geometry via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (Horizon 2000) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (Stratec XCT 3000 Scanner).
The unit is equipped to conduct resting ECGs and breathing rate measurements (etCO2) (Mindray Benevision N15) as well as ultrasound imaging (Terason uSmart 3300) for the assessment of flow mediated dilation and carotid intima-media thickness. Blood pressure can be measured with electronic or manual sphygmomanometers.
The unit provides assistance to investigators on study design, measurement methods and data analysis techniques.
The unit can assist investigators with IRB submissions, other regulatory requirements and with registering and updating their trials on Clinicaltrials.gov.
The unit can assist investigators with protocol development and conduct of research throughout the state through the university’s outreach network (i.e., Cooperative Extension Service, Archway Program).
CTRU investigators have access to valuable research core facilities at UGA and Emory University that can be used in conjunction with CTRU services and resources. The CTRU can also provide transportation of participants or samples to the research core facilities at UGA. Core facilities have capabilities that include biomarker assays, genetic sequencing, and bioimaging. Pricing for core facilities is available on each core facility web page. See a complete list of core facilities.
The CTRU is part of the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (GaCTSA) which may provide additional resources to support clinical and translational research and education, including conducting studies at Emory University and other clinical sites in the Atlanta area.
For more information on services provided or equipment available at the CTRU, check out our Facility Resource List or contact us with questions or to set up a tour of the facility.