The Clinical Research Office

Clinical Research Assistance

• Study Design
• IRB Navigation
• Subject Recruitment
• Sample & Data Acquisition
• Data Analysis
• Dissemination of Results
• Survey research

Cryopreservation and Sample Management

• 25,000+ sample capacity
• 64.4°F to 80.6°F or 18°C to 27°C
• Less than 50% relative humidity, non-condensing
• Dew point rating below 10°C
• FreezerPro® Clinical Sample Tracking Software
• REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)

Core Facilty Services

• Consultations and training
• Access to specialized equipment and instrumentation
• Biospecimen accessioning and processing
• Flow cytometry
• Biomolecular analysis
• Proteomics
• Immunochemical testing
• Cytogenetics
• Molecular Development
• Antibody generation
• Transgenic and knockout mice

FreezerPro® Cloud is a clinical sample tracking software solution enabling CIIDI to easily take control of and manage our laboratory's biospecimens.

Through FreezerPro Software systems, we can accurately and efficiently store and locate samples, generate and distribute sampling reports across all or individual boxes, racks, shelves, or any other storage container, and efficiently produce aliquots and, if necessary, trace those samples back to the originating source(s). This last measure provides the center with accurate accounting for the “on-hand” sample vials and the ability to identify the source vials in the event a situation dictates that need.

REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases.

While REDCap can be used to collect virtually any type of data in any environment (including compliance with 21 CFR Part 11, FISMA, HIPAA, and GDPR), it is specifically geared to support online and offline data capture for research studies and operations.

Minus 80 Degrees Celsius Freezer

The Thermo Scientific TSX60086A ultra-low temperature freezer has a capacity of 28.8 cubic feet (holds 600 2" cryoboxes) with a temperature range of -50° to -86°C

MVE CryoSystem 4000

MVE Cryo-System Series combines the benefits of low nitrogen consumption with mid-range vial capacity to meet the diverse needs of today's professionals worldwide

 The BioStore III Cryo

The BioStore III Cryo provides the best in class automated storage solution for cellular products and other materials requiring storage temperatures below glass transition (Tg)

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) from whole blood are obtained from different diagnostic donors and isolated within 24 hours

Plasma

Fresh or frozen human plasma samples derived from whole blood of diseased donors, obtained using standard blood fraction separation procedures

Serum

A wide range of human serum samples from common infectious, inflammatory, and/or immunological diseases

Areas of Study

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure.

• Immunopathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection with a focus on the innate immune response

• Basic immunologic mechanisms underlying EBV latency and EBV/HIV co-infection leading to tumorigenesis

• Immune response and latency during HIV infection

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood.

• Monocyte & cellular function

• DNA repair

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For most people, hepatitis B is short term, also called acute, and lasts less than six months. But for others, the infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months. 

Having chronic hepatitis B increases your risk of developing:

• Liver failure

• Liver cancer

• Cirrhosis — a condition that permanently scars the liver.

COVID-19: The Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity (CIIDI) is leading the way in novel approaches to identifying the root causes of ongoing and newly developed symptoms of Long Covid.

Dr. Jonathan Moorman has established a repository of patient specimens used for testing human cells for their immune response to COVID-19, and for use in future research studies.

Trained immunity is a functional state of the innate immune response and is characterized by long-term epigenetic reprogramming of innate immune cells. 

Training of innate immune cells, such as:

• Monocytes

• Macrophages

• Natural killer cells 

Sepsis is a heterogenous disease state that can be divided into degrees of severity, typically sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Patients suffering from the latter classifications are frequently on a ventilator and/or have altered mentation.

We invesitigate: 

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of sepsis/septic shock

• Innate immunity and myocardial dysfunction in sepsis

• Innate immune recognition and the fungal cell wall

Proteomics

A branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics to analyzing the structure, function, and interactions of the proteins produced by the genes of a particular cell, tissue, or organism, with organizing the information in databases, and with applications of the data.

Genomics

Genomics is branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of genetics and molecular biology to the genetic mapping and DNA sequencing of sets of genes or the complete genomes of selected organisms, with organizing the results in databases, and with applications of the data.Current Projects include: 

• The UTHSC BIOREPOSITORY AND INTEGRATIVE GENOMICS INITIATIVE (BIG)

• VA Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD)

Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9

Dr. Zhi Qiang Yao, MD, PhD is targeting specific HIV and HBV DNA that has no overlap with the human genome using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing drugs delivered by nanoparticles. Once in-vitro studies are concluded (with sig. p-value), this “discovery project” will assist in the development of a new nanocarrier for effective intracellular delivery and sustained release of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP). 

Vaccine adjuvants augment and help guide immune responses to antigens, the vaccine components that elicit pathogen-specific immune responses.

The Drug Discovery and Synthesis Core focuses on developing innovative immune therapies, as well as the discovery of new and novel adjuvants for increasing vaccine effectiveness. 

Dr. David L. Williams is leading ETSU researchers in an international study which found that fungal sugars called mannans can boost vaccine effectiveness against respiratory viruses. 

Step 1: Submit Your Abstract:

This is the form needed for approval to submit your abstract. Please complete all required sections of the form, attach a copy of your abstract, and click "submit" when you are finished. The form will be routed through the designated chain-of-command for departmental approval.

Submit Your Abstract

Step 2: Submit Your Poster

After the above abstract is accepted to the symposium/conference/meeting, this is the form needed for approval to submit your poster so it can be printed by BMC Creative. Please complete all required sections of the form, attach a copy of your poster, and click "submit" when you are finished. The form will be routed through the designated chain-of-command for departmental approval.

Submit Your Poster

Step  3: Submit for Publication

If you want to submit your work for publication, please complete this form prior to submitting to a journal. Note: The costs for publications that were not submitted for review prior to journal submission will NOT be reimbursed.

Submit for Publication

GAP Funding Request

Quillen College of Medicine provides additional gap funding for students who have exhausted all other sources of funding and who are completing university-approved, research-related activities or university-approved, international medical missions.

Apply for GAP Funding

REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture)

A secure, web-based software application designed specifically for building and managing online surveys and databases for research studies and operations.

Request Access to REDCap

Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs)

Having a plan to conduct research related to potential or awarded funding is important. A clinical research coordinator can be a meaningful piece of your research plan design and implementation of human subject research involving specimen collection.

The services of a clinical research coordinator to be very valuable in securing human subject consent, procuring specimens, assisting with the IRB process, and other tasks essential to the efficient accomplishment of project goals. 

We encourage you to consider writing a new CRC position or a portion of a new CRC position into your upcoming grants. If you’re interested in writing this into a current or future grant, we can help by providing a sample job description to get you started, assist in identifying potential CRC roles in planned research help with the process of adding a CRC to your budget, and link you with other scientists interested in securing a CRC in order to coordinate your proposals and equitably divide a new CRC’s responsibilities.