Researcher resources

We offer a broad spectrum of resources for researchers who are working with VCU Health patients, including assistance with data and research facilities.

Resources and research infrastructure

As an academic medical center, we have established resources to help study teams, including research units at our downtown Richmond campus and support from our clinical departments.

Office of Clinical Research (OCR)

The Office of Clinical Research (OCR) connects patients with researchers and supports study teams throughout the entire research process, from finding opportunities to managing funding.

Clinical Research Unit (CRU)

The adult CRU is here to support clinical research needs, including clinic visits, extended stay visits, and mobile nursing needs.

The adult CRU is located on the 8th floor of the North Hospital and has outpatient rooms, clinic exam rooms, an infusion room and specialized equipment. The adult CRU is also staffed with nurses, Clinical Research Coordinators, and a Patient Access Representative.

The unit is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Study visits outside of these hours require pre-arrangement.

For additional information, please email clinical.research@vcuhealth.org or call 804-828-9101.

Pediatric Research Unit (PRU)

The Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) has a PRU to help with research study needs for patients under 18. The PRU is on the first floor of the CHoR Pavilion and includes three private exam rooms.

The PRU is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Study visits outside of these hours require pre-arrangement. Nursing services for the PRU must also be pre-arranged.

For additional information, please email clinical.research@vcuhealth.org or call 804-628-9747.

Ancillary Support

Research at VCU Health is not possible without the support of our clinical departments that provide critical services that make our patients safe and make sure researchers get the most of their study. Ancillary departments provide lab tests, imaging, supplies and equipment, which are all important for the success of a clinical research study.

VCU Health ancillaries that support clinical research include:

Anatomic Pathology
Anesthesiology
Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory
Center for Sleep Medicine
Clinical Pathology
Clinical Transplant Laboratory
Clinical Research Unit (CRU)
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Endoscopy
Investigational Drug Services (IDS)
Invasive Cardiology
Non-Invasive Cardiology
Ophthalmology
Pediatric Research Unit (PRU)
Physical Therapy (PT)
Pulmonary/Respiratory Care
Radiation Oncology
Radiology
VTCC

For additional information on ancillary support for clinical research, please contact clinical.research@vcuhealth.org.

Study management and data

VCU Health offers both internal and third-party support to make sure every study meets standards and protects patients.

Protocol Review & Oversight Committees (PROC)

A PROC review makes sure that VCU Health has all resources a study needs to be successful. PROC review and approval are required for any study that uses VCU Health resources, including patients, data, facilities and ancillary services.

For additional information on PROC review, please contact proc@vcuhealth.org.

Privacy Board

The VCU Health Privacy Board reviews requests to use VCU Health System data. The Privacy Board also makes sure Patient Health Information (PHI) is protected during studies. A VCU Health Privacy Board review is required if you want to use VCU Health data in your research.

For additional information about the Privacy Board at VCU Health, please contact privacyboard@vcuhealth.org.

Honest Brokers

An Honest Broker is a neutral third party who collects and provides anonymous patient data or specimens to researchers. Honest Brokers protect patients’ privacy while still providing researchers with the materials they need. While Honest Brokers provide materials to researchers at VCU Health, they are not part of the study team.

Use of an Honest Broker is required by VCU Health System policy to meet HIPAA requirements.

For additional information on the Honest Broker process, please contact informatics@vcu.edu

Clinical Research Coordinator Support

VCU Health has Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) assist with study needs at all VCU Health locations, including Community Memorial Hospital and Tappahannock Hospital.

This resource is available to all schools, colleges, and departments within VCU and VCU Health. Study teams can use CRC support to:

Expand clinical research projects to CMH and Tappahannock Hospital locations
Assist with research for departments where CRC support is not currently available
Cover after-hours for studies that are limiting enrollment because of CRC availability
Provide coverage for CRCs during long periods of absence

For additional information on CRC support of clinical research at VCU Health, please reach out to clinical.research@vcuhealth.org.

Core Research Facilities

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