Clinical Research Resources

Judd Shellito, MD
CRR Director
LSU Health New Orleans

Vivian Fonseca, MD
CRR Co-Director
Tulane University

Frank Greenway, MD
CRR Co-Director
Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Stacy Drury, MD, PhD
Pediatrics Site Leader
Children's Hospital, New Orleans

Paul Fidel, Jr. , PhD
Dental School Site Leader
LSU School of Dentistry
About This Core
The Clinical Research Resources (CRR) Core aims to provide a seamless approach and comprehensive network of Clinical Trial Units (CTUs) to support clinical and translational research across Louisiana. CRR supports a uniform and systematic approach to clinical research deployed across all institutions of the LA CaTS Center with a rational allocation of facilities, equipment, trained personnel and uniform systems (standard operating procedures, electronic applications and good clinical practices). This standardization and uniform approach has several important advantages to investigators:
- allows for efficiency in multisite clinical research projects;
- makes it possible for knowledge on conducting clinical research to be more easily disseminated across multiple institutions;
- facilitates collaboration;
- makes it easier for PhDs to engage in clinical research;
- makes it possible for community-based clinics and community physicians to be part of the clinical research enterprise; and
- is more feasible to share resources and avoid duplication of effort.
The CRR core will advance the mission of the LA CaTS Center using three strategies. First, CRR will serve as a source of expertise for clinical research as well as providing technical support and personnel for data collection in existing and planned LA CaTS clinical trial units. Second, we will enhance our coordinator and investigator training activities. Finally, CRR will support a disease-based community network to enhance clinical and translational research activity among all LA CaTS institutions, off-site locations, and especially for underserved and rural communities. These strategies will be implemented under the following specific aims:
Specific Aim 1. To support clinical activity and to ensure efficient and effective data collection
in ongoing clinical trials. The primary goals of this aim are to consolidate/enhance
our current CRR program and to promote new multi-institutional research projects.
Specific Aim 2. To expand support through development of infrastructure and human resources for clinical
and translational research across the state. Infrastructure and resources for clinical
and translational research will be expanded to new partner institutions. We will provide
training on study coordination, hiring of personnel, clinical trial start-up, and
methods of operation. Standard operating procedures for CRR are provided for all investigators
on the LA CaTS website.
Specific Aim 3. To enhance our excellent clinical and translational research programs through training
and professional development. Specifically, we will add a new marketing, recruitment
and participant retention focus to our ongoing training activities.
Specific Aim 4. To extend the reach of CRR beyond the existing clinical trials unit to engage disparate
populations within the state. Specifically, we will collaborate with the Community
Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core to establish and maintain a network of disease-focused
community members in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Network members will
be recruited through CEO as well as Federally Qualified Health Centers and Agriculture
Extension agents working with underserved and rural populations.
The LA CaTS Clinical Trial Units (CTUs)
The LA CaTS Center CTUs are located across the state and our participating institutions in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport areas. A list of the current CTU sites and contacts can be found on the below.
What classifies a clinical site as a LA CaTS CTU? They are either funded with LA CaTS Center grant funds, funded by the LA CaTS member institution, or have committed research staff to conduct and support clinical and translational research studies.
Clinical Sites & Contacts:
Site Address:
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Contact: Robert Leonhard
Robert.Leonhard@pbrc.edu
Email this Site
Site Address:
1440 Canal St., Suite 1700
New Orleans, LA
Contact: Roberta McDuffie, ACNS-BC, MSN, BSBA, CDE
rmcduffi@tulane.edu
504-988-0200
Email this Site
Site Address:
2025 Gravier St.
Seton Building Room 652
New Orleans, LA 70112
Main phone: 504-568-2266
Contact: Virginia Garrison, RN
vgarri@lsuhsc.edu
504-568-2285
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Contact: Emily Moran
Emily.Moran@lcmchealth.org
504-896-9401
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Contact: Kelly Treas
Kdufr2@lsuhsc.edu
504-941-8321
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Each CTU has a Research Facilitator assigned to work one-on-one with investigators to carry a research project through from the planning stage to study completion.
A list of services offered by the LA CaTS CTUs can be found on SPARC or by contacting the CTU Facilitator directly.
Training Programs for Research Coordinators & Investigators
The CRR team offers various training programs to research professionals from the clinical coordinator level to the experienced senior investigator. Click HERE to see a description of our current training programs and when they are offered.