Office of Clinical Research
The Office of Clinical Research (OCR) carries out VCU Health’s mission to conduct ground-breaking medical research. The OCR focuses on bringing research into everyday care throughout the health system and supports study teams throughout the entire research process.
How we support research
We promote, support and manage high-quality clinical research by delivering exceptional services to our clinical research partners. This includes supporting researchers during each part of the study, from finding opportunities to managing funding.
Study opportunities
We find and share new study opportunities with our clinician-researchers.
Study feasibility
We make sure all new studies match our patients’ needs and can be used within our health system. We offer feasibility review by a Protocol Review and Oversight Committee (PROC), pre-study site visits, grant proposal estimates, and on-demand consultation services to make sure studies are successful.
Operational guidance
We seamlessly bring research into clinical care. We use an enterprise-wide single in-take process, mobile nursing, established system-wide P&Ps and SOPs, and research process roadmaps make this a smooth process.
Financial management
We make sure each study team meets federal, state and institutional fiscal regulations. We offer support with billing compliance, comprehensive protocol review, coverage analysis development, research fees schedule, financial dashboards, full research charge reviews and all other aspects of research billing.
Clinical operations
We offer full oversight of the services given to research participants. This includes support through the Adult Clinical Research Unit, the Pediatric Research Unit and research nursing guides. We also hold quarterly ancillary meetings and provide both Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Internships and a CRC pool.
Transparency and communication
We are open and transparent with our research teams and community. We use many channels to communicate with our partners, including through our intranet, monthly Research Town Halls, recurring Leadership Meetings, the Clinical Research Newsletter, and our Annual Survey of OCR Services.
Meet our leadership
Meet our leadership team who are guiding strategy, driving operational excellence, shaping the future of clinical research at VCU Health, and committed to providing the most innovative and excellent care for our patients.
Patrick Nana-Sinkam, MD
AVP for Clinical and Translational Research
Connect with us!
The VCU Health Office of Clinical Research is located at 1300 East Marshall Street (North Hospital, 8th floor), Richmond, Virginia 23298-1055.
- For general questions about Clinical Research at VCU Health, please send an email to clinical.research@vcuhealth.org.
- For questions about clinical trial billing, please send an email to clinicaltrialsbilling@vcuhealth.org
- For questions about Protocol Review Oversight Committees (PROCs), please send an email to PROC@vcuhealth.org.
Adult Clinical Research Unit (CRU)
Located on the 8th floor of North Hospital
Nurse’s Station: 804-828-9101
Registration Desk: 804-828-9105
To schedule a CRU study participant visit, please email
crs-scheduler@vcuhealth.org
Pediatric Clinical Research Unit (PRU)
Located on the 1st floor of the Children’s Pavilion
Nurse’s Station: 804-628-9747
To schedule a PRU study participant visit, please email pruscheduler@vcuhealth.org