Clinical Research Support System
Overview
The Clinical Research Support System (CRSS) provides the following services:
- Supports the investigator in screening and enrolling patients onto clinical trials
- Provides data management support for clinical research trials
- Provides staff education and training pertaining to clinical trials
- Coordinates and implements protocol-related orders for study patients
- Prepares medical charts for audits
CRSS staffing for clinical trials at the Cancer Center is centrally managed, yet assigned to clinical programs where the CRSS staff members function as part of interdisciplinary teams under the direct leadership of their respective scientific investigators. In addition to the functions noted above, the CRSS is responsible for recruiting and training clinical research staff. Staff assignments are based upon accrual, utilizing a staffing ratio of approximately 30 to 40 patient accruals (therapeutic) to 1.0 full-time employee. Annual patient accrual of the Cancer Center for fiscal year 2001 exceeds 4,000, with more than 1,000 patients on therapeutic studies. The Cancer Center is an active participant in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and the New Approaches to Brain Tumor Treatment (NABTT) Consortium. The CRSS provides single point-of-contact data management support for these cooperative groups to coordinate the Cancer Center's activities, thus ensuring timely and efficient institutional performance.