University of Rochester

Education and Training Opportunities for Research Staff in 2009

OHSP List serve

You can subscribe to the OHSP list serve and receive training and educational announcements by following these instructions:

  1. Send an email message to: majordomo@mail.rochester.edu
  2. Leave the "Subject:" blank and then in the first line of the body of the message, type in: subscribe ohspcoordinators

You'll receive an e-mail back stating that you've been added to the list.

Conducting Clinical Trials: 3-day Work Shop
This ongoing program for new staff involved in clinical research will be held in Spring and Fall. Nursing Contact Hours are offered. Eighty percent (80%) tuition reimbursement is available.

Monthly Seminar Series "Achieving High Quality Clinical Research"

This ongoing program is held the second Tuesday of the month, in conjunction with the Rochester Clinical Research Curriculum (RCRC) September through May. The seminar series focuses on clinical trials with topics related to conducting studies in compliance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP) standards and University policies and procedures. CME credit is available.

Protecting Study Volunteers in Research Program (HSPP)

Currently the third edition of the Protecting Study Volunteers in Research manual is being used for this mandatory program for new researchers and their staff involved in greater than minimal risk studies. CME and Nursing Contact Hours are available.

Ethical Principles in Research Program (EPRP)

This mandatory program for those involved in minimal risk studies has been revised and expanded.

Training Manual for Clinical Research Coordinators

The office has purchased copies of "The CRC Guide to Coordinating Clinical Research" authored by Karen Wooden, Ph.D. This would be an excellent training guide for newly hired CRCs as well as a good review for experienced CRCs. Some of the book features include; CRC responsibilities, problems and opportunities, regulations and good clinical practices (GCPs), writing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs), preparing for a study, including case report forms (CRFs), site evaluations, investigator meetings, monitoring visits and more, adverse events and safety monitoring and sample forms, logs and checklists

Clinical Research Coordinator Certification

The office promotes the benefits of certification. The office reimburses the examination fee for all employees that receive a passing grade on the examination. In addition, we reimburse the employee's re-certification fee every two years upon successful completion of continuing educational requirements.

Study Coordinators Group

The purpose of this group is to create a forum where issues related to the administration of clinical trials are discussed. It is an excellent opportunity for Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC's) and others involved in clinical research to share "best practices" and to discuss common issues and concerns.

With an Advisory Board working on behalf of all research personnel, educational and networking meetings are held quarterly. There is also a website that serves as a valuable resource offering educational, networking, and skills information, meeting notices, and various links to improve efficiency and job performance.

Take yourself to the next level by being an active and regular user of the website at: http://intranet.urmc.rochester.edu/depts/scg

Rochester Clinical Research Curriculum (RCRC) Research Seminars

The Rochester Clinical Research Curriculum has been designed specifically for physicians, doctorally prepared nurses, dentists, and Ph.D.s in clinically relevant disciplines. Development of this program is funded by a K30 grant award from the National Institutes of Health. As part of the award, research seminars are held the second Tuesday of each month when school is in session. The OHSP provides speakers for one of the presentations each month.

Departmental Educational Session

Educational sessions are scheduled with a clinical departments upon request. The objective of these sessions is to review with faculty and staff their responsibilities involved in conducting research with human subjects.

"Practical information on how to conduct clinical research at the University of Rochester Medical Center"

This program was developed to assist new coordinators transverse the different departments of Medical Center. Some of the areas covered are those that require specific information before a clinical trial is initiated such as labs, radiology, Emergency Department, Pharmacy, GCRC, RSRB, WIRB, OHSP, Information Systems(CIS), etc. The information is presented in a manual called the 'Clinical Research Coordinator Handbook'. The manual can be found on the Study Coordinators Group Website, under 'Education'.

Training for Shipping Biologicals and Hazardous Materials

This program consists of a training CD with Certification to meet dangerous goods regulations (e.g. infectious substances, diagnostic specimens, biological products, dry ice).