Institute for Clinical and Translational Science

In order to bring discoveries to patients, there must be places where clinical research studies can take place, and skilled staff to ensure high quality safe research practices. The Participant and Clinical Interactions Resources Key Function (PCIR) provides these facilities for investigators conducting inpatient and outpatient clinical and translational research at The University of Iowa.

The PCIR includes a Clinical Research Unit (supporting both outpatient and overnight studies) and a Flexible Nursing Service (for subjects who are unable to come to the main Clinical Research Unit due to unstable conditions, such as receiving care in neonatal, intensive care, and operating theater units). We also have a dedicated dental outpatient research suite located in the College of Dentistry.

Support from the PCIR includes consultation as researchers design their studies, assistance in coordinating research activities, and different types of interaction with the research subjects. Specifically, the Participant and Clinical Interactions Resources Key Function provides:

• Pre-submission consultation regarding methodology and available resources
• Pre-study startup meeting regarding coordinator of research activities, lines of responsibility and communication, clarification of specific protocols, and generation of orders
• Point-of-contact testing, including EKG, blood/urine beta-HCG, urine dip sticks, fecal oocult blood
• Off-site research support and contact, including sample collection
• Consenting of subjects under certain circumstances, (e.g. parents/surrogates)
• Provide research protocols with general supplies, including phlebotomy equipment and sample tubes, gloves, masks, sterile dressings, etc.
• Research subject encounters, including:
• Collection of:
• Demographic information
• Vital signs
• Urine and phlebotomy
• Initial evaluation and ongoing monitoring
• Drug administration
• Post-procedural, post-conscious sedation monitoring, including bronchoscopy
• Acute care nursing (pediatric and adult)
• EEG and video monitoring for neurosurgery patients following cortical electrode implantation and withdrawal of anti-epileptic medications
• Scheduling and facilitation of studies, procedures, and return visits
• Biological sample processing and mailing

Please visit the following links for more information pertaining to protocols, lab support, Clinical Research Unit, outpatient services , overnight studies, Flexible Nursing Service and Oral and Craniofacial Research.

The Participant and Clinical Interactions Resources Key Function is led by Joel N. Kline, M.D., M.Sc., William Haynes, M.B., Ch.B, M.D., Clark Stanford, D.D.S., Ph.D. (Dental Component), and Jack Widness, M.D. (Flex Nursing Component). Michael Bosch is the nurse manager for the inpatient and outpatient components, and Gretchen Cress serves as the assistant nurse manager for the Flex Nursing component.