Clinical Research

The Department of Medicine is dedicated to improving the health of adults through excellence in innovative clinical research and currently averages approximately 1,200 active protocols per year.

This clinical research portfolio spans research done within the Divisions of Endocrinology, General Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics and the Center for Aging, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Pulmonary and Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, and Duke Molecular Physiology Institute (DMPI).

Clinical Research Unit

The Medicine Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is responsible for the operational support and oversight of all clinical research involving human subjects in the Department of Medicine. 

The CRU ensures a core of skilled individuals to manage the clinical research activities, ensure the necessary training of investigators, research coordinators, and other study personnel and provide both financial and research practice support and oversight to ensure compliance with all local, state and federal regulations and institutional policies and procedures. The CRU also ensures that clinical research is scientifically aligned with the interests of the faculty and the academic mission of the School of Medicine and the Department of Medicine while being appropriately funded and financially transparent.

CRU Faculty Advisory Board

The Medicine CRU Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) includes the medical directors from each division/institute/center and provides direction to the CRU leadership team to help carry out the CRU mission, to improve the conduct of human subjects research, and to maintain a forward thinking vision for the unit.  The FAB is asked to review and provide recommendations regarding departmental standards and systems for the conduct of clinical research and new initiatives.

Leadership

Laurie Snyder, MD
Medical Director

Jennifer Hamill, RN, MSN
Director of Clinical Research Administration

Elaine Dowdy, MSW, LCSW, CCRC
Research Practice Manager