Participating in Research: Research Participant Information
General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)
Of the University of Rochester Medical Center
at Strong Memorial Hospital
Unit 4-3400
(585) 275-2907
Welcome to the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at Strong Memorial Hospital. The GCRC is a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded inpatient and outpatient research facility providing specialized resources for researchers to observe and study research volunteers to learn new information about diseases and how to treat them.
GCRC research is conducted in all age ranges from infants to older adults. The research areas include studies of neurological conditions; behavioral, cardiology, endocrinology and metabolism, geriatrics, infectious diseases, nephrology, neurology, nursing, nutrition, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatry, pulmonary medicine and surgery.
Before you can participate in a research study at the GCRC, you must be given enough information for you to decide whether or not to participate. You should receive answers to the following questions from your research study staff:
- Why is this research study being done?
- Do I qualify for the study?
- What tests or procedures are involved? How much of my time will the visits take? How long will I be in the study?
- What types of risks, discomforts, or side effects can I expect?
- What benefits, if any, can I expect?
- What other choices do I have if I do not want to volunteer?
- How will by medical record information be protected?
If you qualify and decide to participate, you will then sign the Informed Consent Form for your study. If the individual research participant is less than 18 years of age, the parent or legal guardian must sign for the child.
Remember: You may withdraw from a research study at any time.
As a research participant, we also ask that you:
Our research study team consists of a number of professional individuals who will work together to give you the care you need:
- Your Primary Care Physician and/or Principal Investigator (the individual who will lead the project) will work with the GCRC Program Director, Dr. John E. Gerich, to oversee and direct your research care.
- The GCRC Nurse Manager, Patricia Pincus, RN, MPH, CIC, CCRC and the Nurse Leader, Ann Miller, RN, BSN, CCRC, will oversee and direct the nursing care that is provided to you during your stay on the unit and are available to address any nursing concerns.
- Registered Nurses (RNs)/Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) will provide nursing care for you during your stay at the GCRC.
- The GCRC Nutrition Manager, Patricia Stewart, PhD RD and the Nutrition Supervisor, Robin Peck, will supervise the standardization and preparation of your meals.
Research participants arriving for an inpatient research visit on the GCRC should go directly to the GCRC unit of Strong Memorial Hospital at 4-3400.
From the parking garage, enter the hospital’s 1st floor main lobby. Walk toward the right through the main lobby and turn right at the end of the hallway. Follow the red ceiling tags to the RED elevators. Take the elevators to the 4th floor (Children’s Hospital unit). As you come out of the elevators, turn RIGHT into the hallway, and then an immediate RIGHT at the first hallway (Unit 4-3400). The hallway will end at the GCRC nurses station, where you will check-in. You may also ask for directions at the Information Desk in the Main Lobby.
During your stay on the GCRC you may be consuming a special diet, sometimes referred to as a “weighed diet.” It is designed to meet your dietary preferences and the restriction of the research project for which you are participating.
If you are not required to have a special diet, you can choose your meals from the hospital room service menu. Meal and snack times may vary according to your test schedule, but will generally be provided at regular meal times.
If there are any questions or comments concerning your diet, please contact any member of your research study team.
For your family’s convenience, the cafeteria is located on the first floor, and is open daily from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm.
You may park in the hospital parking garage during your stay on the GCRC. Fees for parking are administered by the Medical Center Parking Office. Please contact the office directly at 275-4524 or 273-4226 for parking rate information. If parking fees are not paid for by your research study, you will be responsible for paying for parking. Please check with your research study team or coordinator if you have any other questions.
You will have access to a telephone for free local calls. Please contact a member of your research study team if you need to make long distance phone calls. Family and friends may call you through Patient Telephone Services at 275-7575.
Cable television is provided free of charge in each room on the General Clinical Research Center. You may also want to bring a book or magazine to read.
Hospital gowns will be provided during your stay, but ask your study coordinator about bringing your own clothes and sleepwear.
Visiting hours in the hospital are from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. Visiting hours on the GCRC are the same as the hospital, but may be relaxed at the discretion of the Nursing Staff. Visiting hours tend to be more lenient on the GCRC than on other medical floors.
Research subjects are allowed to leave the GCRC on a pass only if approved by the Principal Investigator of the research protocol in which you are participating. However, all inpatients must be back on the unit no later than 11:00pm.
If a child is a research subject on the GCRC, a parent or guardian may stay in the room throughout the night with the child. A lounge chair will be provided for the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian will not be allowed to sleep in the bed in the child’s room.
When you are ready to leave the hospital, here are some things to think about that may help you:
- Do you know when you are going home?
- Can you drive home? Or do you know who will pick you up from the hospital?
- Do you have all the belongings you brought with you to the hospital, including medications?
- Do you have all the supplies and equipment you will need?
- Do you have your discharge prescriptions (if any)?
- Have you identified friends or family to assist you at home if necessary?
Please feel free to ask your nurse for additional help or if you answered “no” to any of these questions.
You will be informed of your discharge date and time. Your discharge plan will be reviewed with you that day before you leave. The morning of discharge you will receive your prescriptions (if any) and discharge instructions. You will then sign your discharge papers and be discharged according to the research study.
We strive to provide the best customer service on the General Clinical Research Center. If you have any concerns or questions at any time, please do not hesitate to ask.
Click here:  Research Participant Information
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