(619) 543-6180
http://gcrc.ucsd.edu/

Center Overview:
The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at UCSD is one of approximately 80 centers in the country that is funded by the NIH National Center for Research Resources (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/).  Funding is awarded to institutions to ensure that cost effective specialized facilities and biological materials needed for patient-oriented research are accessible to biomedical investigators whose research projects are supported by the National Institutes of Health and other peer-reviewed sources.

Center Facts:

• GCRC is under the direction of Michael Ziegler, M.D., Professor of Medicine
• Consists of a discrete unit on the 9^th floor at UCSD Medical Center, comprised of
   - 8 inpatient beds
   - adjacent dedicated nursing station and waiting room
   - metabolic kitchen for specialized nutritional needs
   - two outpatient rooms
   - an exercise physiology lab
• Offers an informatics core and computer support
• Offers a biostatistics core for help with study design and data analysis
• Provides a core laboratory for specialized assays – a detailed list of available assays is available on their website
• Maintains a 3,000 square foot outpatient unit on the main campus
• Funds scatter beds on the 3rd floor Special Diagnostic Treatment Unit in the VA Med Center La Jolla
• Provides a Laboratory for Sleep and Chronobiology, located at the VA Med Center in La Jolla

Current Cancer Studies:
The GCRC currently has several active research protocols investigating Prostate Cancer, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Colorectal Carcinoma, Breast Cancer and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. 

Professional Assistance:
The GCRC employs a biostatistician, registered nurses, registered dieticians, a computer systems manager, technical laboratory staff, allied health care professionals and an administrative staff to support and advise faculty investigators, their staff and medical students in their pursuit of clinical research. 

Using the GCRC:
The UCSD Human Research Protection Program and the GCRC advisory committee must approve all studies performed at the GCRC.  Forms required for GCRC project approval can be accessed on their website.  The GCRC advisory committee meets monthly to review protocol applications.  Proposals are evaluated and scored for significance, approach, innovation, investigator expertise, and relevance of the use of the GCRC.  There is no charge for use of the GCRC on projects funded by the NIH.  Reduced inpatient rates are given to users for industry funded clinical research. 

Pilot Project Program:
Each year, the GCRC awards three or four 1-year Clinical Research Feasibility Fund (CReFF) projects to junior faculty.  Applications are reviewed and scored for scientific merit and budget requirements.  Annual funding can be up to $20,000 per award and is renewable. Applications for CReFF awards are submitted in September and funded in December.