Pediatric Clinical Research Center (PCRC)
The PCRC facilitates investigator-initiated and pharmaceutical industry-sponsored Phase I-V clinical research efforts throughout the Pediatric Campus at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Faculty and staff are trained and experienced in conducting clinical trials in children.
Location and Description
The PCRC is housed within the Child Health Institute of New Jersey (directly adjacent to the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital) and is a fully staffed and equipped clinical research facility capable of conducting both inpatient and outpatient pediatric clinical trials.
The PCRC is an academic clinical research center within the Department of Pediatrics at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and offers direct connections to a wide array of experienced clinical and basic scientists. The Pediatric Campus includes The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Children’s Specialized Hospital (2008) providing the children of New Jersey a place where they can find treatment for any problem, and where every facet of normal and abnormal development will be a subject of research and teaching.
Services and Equipment
The PCRC is a fully staffed and equipped clinical research facility capable of conducting both inpatient and outpatient pediatric clinical trials.
The PCRC services:
- Direct connections to a wide array of experienced clinical and basic scientists at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Child Health Institute of New Jersey and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University
- Protocol support: Conducting study visits at the PCRC, Inpatient units, or outpatient clinics (if needed),
- Study coordination.
- Sample Collection: blood, saliva, swabs
- EKG
- Survey administration.
- Neuropsychology testing
- Phlebotomy, Sample handling, storage, and shipping.
- Point of care testing: Pregnancy test, urine tests
- Data entry and management
- Participant education (study specific electronic systems)
- Regulatory guidance and management
Assistance with research budget and/or contract negotiations
Equipment and facilities:
- 1 exam room
- 1 long stay room
- Phlebotomy station with specimen processing and storage
- Laboratory facilities: Centrifuges, Freezer ( -20, -80)
- Fully-equipped Pulmonary function lab
- Cardio pulmonary exercise testing
Leadership
Sunanda Gaur, MD, MBBS
Professor of Pediatrics, RWJMS
Director, Clinical Research Center
Director, RWJ AIDS Program
gaursu@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Maya Ramagopal, MD
Assistant Director
Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
ramagoma@rutgers.edu
Lisa Cerracchio, BSN, RN-BC, CCRC
Nurse Manager
Meet the Staff
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Bibiana Vargas Forero | Clinical Research Coordinator | bv230@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Christian Suarez | Clinical Research Coordinator | cjs339@shp.rutgers.edu |
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Christina Varghese | Clinical Research Coordinator | chrisvar@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Yue Hao | Regulatory Coordinator | yh490@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Akhil Patel | Laboratory Technician | ap2185@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Elizabeth George, RPh, BCOP | Research Pharmacist | georgeem@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Katherine George, PharmD, BCPPS | Research Pharmacist | kathy.george@rutgers.edu |
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Mark Rusay, PharmD | Research Pharmacist | mtr82@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Chethram Nauth, CPhT | Pharmacy Technician | cn340@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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Sherri Gzemski | Business Manager | gzemsksa@rwjms.rutgers.edu |
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William Russell | Respiratory Therapy Manager | wdr21@rbhs.rutgers.edu |
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Damaris Soto | Staff Assistant | sotoda@rwjms.rutgers.edu |