Volume 18 | September 2024
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This Month's Featured Director
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Michael Fischer, MD, MS.
Director, Clinical and Translational Research
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Our team in the Data and Methods Core is just getting started, as everyone on-boarded over the summer. Our immediate goal is to begin working with BMC researchers on analytic projects and to build from there into a full launch of our services to increase the amount and impact of clinical research happening here at BMC.
What inspires me about the research mission and vision is the opportunity to support evaluation and dissemination of the amazing work that happens on our campus. We have a remarkable range of innovative programs at BMC that aim to improve the quality, safety, and equity of the care that we deliver. Building our capacity to rigorously evaluate these interventions so that we can learn which elements are most effective and share that with the larger healthcare community can serve as a multiplier for BMC’s impact.
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Bridging Gaps in Trust Through Diverse Pediatric Clinical Trials
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Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett investigates the ways that systemic racism and medical distrust continue to drive health inequities. |
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Improving racial representation in clinical trials remains a significant challenge for medical researchers. Of the clinical trial
participants for the 53 new FDA-approved therapies approved in 2020, only 8% were Black compared to 75% white. This stark disparity in representation not only tells a story about medical mistrust but also the persistent barriers and biases that continue to limit access to medical progress for historically disadvantaged communities. Inclusive research is fundamental for health equity and ensuring diverse representation in clinical trials is a critical step forward.
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Read More →
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Research Education |
Training and Education Opportunities and Development |
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Research Operations is developing education opportunities and partnering with BMC/BUMC's
Clinical Research Resources Office to identify their monthly and quarterly series. As trainings become available, we will add them to the research community calendar or library.
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Upcoming Highlights:
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Mon, Sept 30, 2:30-4:00pm
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Putting On Your QA Hat: Planning and Conducting Self-Assessments to Ensure High Quality Research
The Research Professionals Network, hosted by the BMC/BUMC Clinical Research Resources Office, kicks off its 2024-25 workshop series with a new time slot. September’s workshop focuses on self-guided quality assurance practices.
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Mon, Sept 9, 12:00-1:30pm
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F&A Primer
The Research Administration Demonstration (RAD) series, sponsored by New York University, draws its 2023-24 series to a close with a discussion of indirect costs of sponsored programs, otherwise known as facility and administration costs, or F&A.
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Our Network
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Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA):
SPA oversees the non-financial administration of all sponsored awards, grants, and contracts at BMC. SPA supports BMC staff to submit proposals, negotiate agreements, and manage non-financial post award tasks such as progress reporting, prior approvals, and subaward issuance. In this section, find information about BMC processes and policies, important sponsor updates, and general SPA updates.
In this issue:
SPA Onsite Retreat in September- note updated deadlines for week of 9/23
NIH Updates to Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support
COGR Updates- Quick Reference Guide and Matrix of Science & Security Laws
Read More →
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Sponsored Programs Finance (SPF):
SPF provides financial oversight of sponsored programs, including invoicing, collections, financial closeout, auditing, and indirect cost analysis. Check back frequently for information on policies, contracts and forms, new processes and training information. Trainings are live, recorded, and posted here.
Read More →
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Center for Clinical Research and Advancement (CCRA):
The CCRA encompasses the Clinical Research Network (CRN) and Clinical Trials Office (CTO). The CCRA promotes innovation and discovery in partnership with research teams and our patients, communities, and sponsors for the betterment of health outcomes. Read More →
Clinical Research Network (CRN):
The CRN is working to improve diverse participation in research by bringing community-engaged staffing services to high priority, under-resourced trials in service to our research and patient communities. Our team will provide updates about how we’re engaging with our communities to improve awareness, understanding, and trust in research through outreach, education and building authentic community partnerships.
In this issue:
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Clinical Trial Office (CTO):
The CTO serves as a central resource for principal investigators, study staff and departments involved in clinical research and for sponsors seeking to conduct clinical trials at BMC. Our CTO pre-award and post-award team(s) supports and advances BMC's mission by providing leadership and expertise in Research, Finance and Administration.
In this issue:
Change to Speed Up Clinical Trial Agreement Execution
New Clinical Trials Budgeting & Billing Working Group: 10/2 @ 1:00
ClinCard Cost Coverage for Industry Sponsors
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Research Contracts & Industry Agreements (RCIA):
RCIA is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating research and programmatic contracts. RCIA’s portfolio includes Clinical Trial Agreements, Programmatic Service and Research Funding Agreements, and non-funded agreements such as Data Use Agreements and Material Transfer Agreements. RCIA also provides guidance and support to BMC researchers seeking to engage in collaborative or sponsored research with external academic, non-profit, and industry partners.
In this issue:
Allocating Contractual Liability
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Research Support Services (RSS):
RSS provides strategic input, coordination, supervision and operational oversight, and fiscal responsibility for all of BMC’s shared research Cores and Platforms including Shared Services that support research. In addition, RSS is developing a centralized support services strategy, initially aimed at providing PI-centric post award financial management support to partnering departments and PIs. The initial phase will be a small test phase starting summer 2024.
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Foundation Relations and Government Grants (FRGG):
FRGG strategizes with investigators and teams to maximize competitiveness for research funding. As vital members of the BMC research community, we accelerate the growth of research through collaboration with BMC investigators to craft compelling research proposals responsive to funder priorities. FRGG helps teams and individual researchers amplify their research by becoming more effective communicators, grant writers, and advocates. We activate and lead teams around emerging research opportunities, many of which are large-scale and span scientific disciplines, clinical and administrative departments, and institutions.
FRGG’s continuum of grant-seeking services for government grants and foundation-funded research grants ranges from identifying, reviewing, analyzing, and disseminating funding opportunities to cultivating relationships with investigators, internal and external collaborators, and funders. We partner with investigators on all facets of proposal development, from idea generation through submission, with a special emphasis on helping you navigate the BMC institutional landscape to ensure your research is designed to succeed. Please connect with us if
you have any questions.
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Research Informatics (RI):
RI provides the infrastructure and analytics to drive BMC’s research data strategy. RI also administers the BMC Clinical Data Warehouse for Research (CDW-R), a core facility that extracts data from health system data warehouses on behalf of researchers. CDW-R services include research data sets extractions, medical record pre-screens and prospective recruitment lists, retrospective cohort identification, and simple counts for study cohort estimations.
Read More →
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About Us
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Research Enterprise (RE) is committed to advancing Boston Medical Center’s research mission by providing comprehensive services across various facets of sponsored research. Our team specializes in Research Foundation Relations and Government Grants, Sponsored Programs Administration, Sponsored Finance Administration, Research Contracting, Research Informatics, Shared Support Services and the Center for Clinical Research Advancement (comprised of the Clinical Trials Office and Clinical Research Network). We also partner closely with Research Information Systems and Research Compliance and our Office of General Counsel.
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With a focus on promoting community engagement that leads to health and racial equity in biomedical research and discovery, RE offers expertise in navigating regulatory compliance and institutional policies. We strive to deliver exceptional support to researchers and staff, empowering them to drive groundbreaking research initiatives forward.
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RE is structured to meet the diverse needs of BMC’s researchers and departments. We are dedicated to removing barriers and fostering collaboration to accelerate research breakthroughs. RE stands ready to collaborate with researchers, departments, and communities to advance BMC’s research endeavors. Let us know how we can help you!
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