Updates

Clinical Research Center

The Clinical Research Center (CRC) conducts innovative research studies that cut across all disciplines. Many of the studies evaluate the effects of new therapies in children and are intensive in terms of obtaining blood samples and other biologic samples, along with investigational medication administration regimens. The CRC is dedicated to providing efficient, reliable and high-quality support for Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine clinical investigators. For a reasonable cost, investigators can utilize the following services, as needed:

  • Five outpatient clinic rooms equipped with youth bed for lengthy visits
  • One consult room for patient interviews and consultations
  • One blood draw room
  • Sample preparation laboratory equipped with refrigerated centrifuge, -80 freezers, -20 freezer, and refrigerators for specimen storage

Services Available to Support your Studies

  • Experienced research nurses and patient care assistants specially trained in research
  • Nursing procedures such as anthropometrics, investigational medication administration, including chemo and biotherapies, IV insertion and Port-a-Cath accession, pharmacokinetic blood sampling, and simple lab processing
  • Nursing support in the Texas Children’s Newborn Center including anthropometrics, specimen sample acquisition, and lab processing
  • Research Dietitian Support

Location and Hours

  • Location: Abercrombie 7 North
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 7 AM to 4 PM. Additional and extended hours by arrangement.
  • Please contact the CRC and Research Administration for inpatient inquires.

Fees

  • One-time Start-up Fee: $250.00
  • Industry-Sponsored Hourly Nursing Rate: $90.00/hour
  • Federally-funded/Grant/PI-initiated: $45.00/hour
  • Lab Processing Fee: $25.00/hour for Inpatient or Outpatient Lab Processing Only visits


The CRC offers use of its facilities and resources for clinical studies that have been approved by the BCM IRB and the CRC Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).  A CRC application is required and must be submitted electronically using the link below.

https://orit.research.bcm.edu/R5T80IF3WH2/CRCApplication/Login.aspx

History

In its 50-year history CRC has played host to a number of notable studies and breakthroughs, including:

  • Significant improvements in HIV care, including the long-term monitoring of anti-retroviral side effects and prevention of mother to infant HIV transmission
  • Characterization and treatment of numerous inherited diseases and the development of molecular genetic tools to diagnose these diseases
  • Development of vaccines for Norwalk virus and other viral infections
  • Understanding the nutritional needs of preterm and newborn infants
  • Characterization of metabolic alterations due to chronic disease
  • Use of sophisticated MRI techniques to study mother/infant attachment
  • Determining the best antibiotic regimen post appendectomy
  • Novel cell and gene therapy treatments for adult and pediatric cancers
  • Development of many new drugs for the treatment of pediatric cancer
  • The largest study of its kind to look at the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) from infancy to adulthood