Clinical Research Center

The General Clinical Research Center has enjoyed funding from the NIH since 1963 with an interruption between1987-1991. Over the years, investigators have made substantial contributions to medical knowledge through studies of infants, children and adults studied on the GCRC. With added emphasis on translational research, the GCRC has been providing resources including nursing, bionutrition, body composition, behavioral, informatics and biostatistics for more protocols that support the application of novel ideas derived from the laboratory that are being applied at the bedside. In the last few years, increasing numbers of investigators who have received funding through the Translational Research Initiative have utilized the GCRC for their studies. Recent outstanding examples of research performed with GCRC support include use of novel treatments of rare diseases. Marc Rothenberg, M.D., Ph.D. and his research team have evaluated the use of a monoclonal antibody against IL-5 for treatment of hypereosinophilic syndromes (Rothenberg ME. et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2008; 358: 1215-1228). This work was based upon the basic science discovery of the role of the cytokine, IL-5, on eosinophil movement into affected tissues and the creation of an antibody blocking this cytokine. A second example of recent work utilizing the GCRC was directed by John Bissler, M.D. His research team explored the use if sirolimus for the treatment of angiomyolipomata in tuberous sclerosis or lymphangiomatosis (Bissler JJ.et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2008; 358: 140-151). This work capitalized on the basic discovery that sirolimus, an inhibitor of mTor signaling (which has been found to regulate cell volume), could reduce the size of tumors produced in these clinical conditions. An additional important recent contribution made by Heidi Kalkwarf, Ph.D. and her research team consisted of participation in a multicenter study that has created a longitudinal database of bone density measurements in children (Kalkwarf HJ et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92: 2087-2099).  

General Clinical Research Center census and number of projects are shown below in pie chart format.  The GCRC core services are also illustrated  below.  (Projects utililzing the GCRC are, for the most part, multi-disciplinary.)

Programs developed with the Center for Clinical and Translational Research supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center will complement the services provided by the GCRC. The grant has received a very favorable score that should ensure funding for the next five years. Funded programs will include the GCRC, as well as expanded services for biomedical informatics, biostatistics and study design, pilot projects, career development, community engagement, regulatory support, and translational technologies. These expanded services will continue to depend upon the GCRC for the translation of discoveries from the bed to the bedside and with this new initiative, opportunities will be presented to make applications of discoveries to the broader audience in the community.