Table of Contents
 | WU GCRC Purpose and Function
| WU GCRC Location
| Patient categories | |
T he
mission of the Washington University General Clinical Research Center is to
facilitate and support patient-oriented research, and research training,
conducted by the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine. To that
end the GCRC provides in-patient and out-patient research space, research
nursing, dietary and data management assistance, biostatistical consultation and
core laboratory services. The Washinton University GCRC has been supported
continously by the GCRC Program of the National Center for Research Resources of
the National Institutes of Health since 1960. Its most resent competitive
renewal application includes nearly 100 research protocols, several with
multiple projects, from principal investigator based in eight departments of the
school: Medicine (10 divisions), Pediatrics (7 divisions), Neurology,
Psychiatry, Surgery, Radiology, Anesthesiology and Pathology. Many of the PIs
have collaborators, joint appointments, or both in pre-clinical departments.
While population-oriented research (e.g. epidemology) is represented, the bulk
of the protocols are classical patient-oriented research ranging from molecular
biology and immunology through physiology and pathophysiology to new approaches
to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of an array of diseases. Disorders
under study include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia,
osteoporosis and other age-related problems, obesity, depression and
schizophrenia, infectious diseases including AIDS, asthma, sickle cell disease,
neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune diseases and
endocrinopathies including multiple endocrine neoplasia. Methods used include
measures of gene expression and genotype, of cerebral and myocardial metabolism
with positron emission tomography, cognitive functions, glucose/lipid/protein
kinetics and of cholesterol absorbtion with stable and radioactive isotopes in
some instances paired with tissue microdialysis, and organ structure with
magnetic resonance imaging.
G overnance
of the GCRC includes the Advisory Committee which interprets NIH GCRC
guidelines, establishes the WU GCRC policies with the consent of the GCRC
Principal Investigator, prospectively reviews all research conducted on the
GCRC, and provides supervision of and direction to the GCRC Program Director.
GCRC personnel include those in
T he GCRC is funded through the NIH GCRC program. The grant to Washington University GCRC supports both the Adult Discrete Inpatient/Outpatient Unit and the Pediatric Per Diem Outpatient/Inpatient Unit. The GCRC supports research performed by all WUSM faculty and staff. Types of research include NIH funded projects, pilot projects, and peer reviewed projects funded by non-profit foundations and organizations. The costs of industry-intiated inpatient and outpatient services are the responsibility of the supporting industry.
T he
GCRC is also a major site of training in patient-oriented research, primarily
for postdoctoral fellows, at the School of Medicine. This includes mentored
training in the settings of the conduct of research on the GCRC and a didactic
program. Residents and students are exposed to research in humans largely
through rotations with subspecialties active on the GCRC.
T he
Washington University General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) consists of an
Adult Unit and a Pediatric Unit. The Adult Unit is located on the 4th and 5th
floors of Barnard Hospital. The Pediatric Unit is located on the 2nd floor of
St. Louis Children's Hospital.
The 4th floor of Barnard Hospital consists of a 6-room, 12-bed semi-private
inpatient area that is staffed 24-hours a day (as research necessitates). The
space on the 4th floor is reserved for inpaitent admissions and outpatient
testing expected to last more than two-hours. An enclosed nursing station, small
kitchen and core laboratory round out the remaining space on the 4th floor.
The 5th floor is the outpatinet area used for research studies involving less
time, simple blood draws or laboratory send offs. The patient area includes 2
full beds, 4 chair beds, a waiting room, outpatient office as well as the
dietary offices and kitchen. The outpatient office is staffed Monday-Friday from
0700-1500. Located on the South end of the 5th floor are the administrative
offices and informatics core.
The Pediatric Unit is located on the 2nd floor and the remainder of the core
laboratory is located on the 10th floor of the St. Louis Children's Hospital.
The paitent care area in room 2S23 primarily supports outpatient research
activity. Inpatient beds are available on a per diem basis. The unit has two
private exam/treatment rooms and a larger room to accomodate two patients. A
conference area is available for interviewing patients and families. The unit is
staffed from 0600-1600 Monday-Friday; other hours may be available as needed
when prearranged with the Nurse Manager. The administrative area is in room
2S24.
T here
are four categories of GCRC outpatients and inpatients:
Category A.
Patient / subject seen / admitted for research. The patient / subject is not
responsible for any GCRC costs. All costs are the responsibiltiy of the GCRC
grant. All ancillary costs to the GCRC must be approved by the GCRC advisory
committee. Physician fees are not allowed. Managed care rules do not apply; the
GCRC Avdvisory Committee decides the appropriateness based on scientific needs
of the research.
Category B.
Patient seen/admitted for medically indicated care but participating in
research. Managed care rules apply, and the patient's carrier is responsible for
the costs of care including physician fees. Generally there are no charges to
the GCRC grant although ancillary costs for research rather than care can be
charged to the grant given Advisory Committee approval.
Category C.
Patient admitted for care only. This is not an investigator option. In practice
only Barnard Trust patients (medically indigent patients with cancer) are in
this category.
Category D.
Patient / subject seen / admitted for industry-initiated research. The industry
sponsor is responsible for all costs.
The principal investigator should specify the intended patient category on the
Outpatient visits are typically in category A or D although category B outpaitent visits can be arranged with prior Advisory Committee approval.