Children’s Hospital Pediatric Clinical and Translational Research Center

The Children’s Hospital Pediatric Clinical and Translational Research Center (P-CTRC) provides a controlled environment to conduct clinical and translational research on childhood diseases. The center encourages collaboration among basic and clinical scientists, promoting studies that may translate into new or improved patient care methods. The P-CTRC includes inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as a specimen-processing laboratory. Statistical support is provided by the P-CTRC biostatistician, including consultation on experimental design, data analysis, and data management.

The inpatient unit includes four beds in single- or double-housing rooms to accommodate most research study designs. Inpatient rooms provide a chair bed for one parent, telephone, television, and digital video player. An activity room for young children and a teen lounge are also available. The hospital employs child-life specialists who coordinate special activities for children.

The inpatient unit is staffed by clinical research nurses. The P-CTRC inpatient nurse manager coordinates all admissions and supervises inpatient protocols. The nurse manager develops a nursing co-protocol for each approved clinical protocol conducted at the P-CTRC.

The P-CTRC outpatient unit has a patient waiting area, private patient restroom, four exam rooms, phlebotomy area, and specimen processing laboratory. P-CTRC outpatient nurses schedule visits, assist investigators, and perform some testing procedures independently.