Pediatric Clinical Research Center (PCRC)

The PCRC facilitates investigator-initiated and pharmaceutical industry-sponsored Phase I-V clinical research efforts throughout the Pediatric Campus at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Faculty and staff are trained and experienced in conducting clinical trials in children.

 

Location and Description

The PCRC is housed within the Child Health Institute of New Jersey (directly adjacent to the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital) and is a fully staffed and equipped clinical research facility capable of conducting both inpatient and outpatient pediatric clinical trials.

The PCRC is an academic clinical research center within the Department of Pediatrics at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and offers direct connections to a wide array of experienced clinical and basic scientists. The Pediatric Campus includes The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the Child Health Institute of New Jersey, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Children’s Specialized Hospital (2008) providing the children of New Jersey a place where they can find treatment for any problem, and where every facet of normal and abnormal development will be a subject of research and teaching.

Services and Equipment

 

The PCRC is a fully staffed and equipped clinical research facility capable of conducting both inpatient and outpatient pediatric clinical trials.

The PCRC services:

  • Direct connections to a wide array of experienced clinical and basic scientists at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Child Health Institute of New Jersey and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University
  • Protocol support: Conducting study visits at the PCRC, Inpatient units, or outpatient clinics (if needed),
  • Study coordination.
  • Sample Collection: blood, saliva, swabs
  • EKG
  • Survey administration.
  • Neuropsychology testing
  • Phlebotomy, Sample handling, storage, and shipping.
  • Point of care testing: Pregnancy test, urine tests
  • Data entry and management
  • Participant education (study specific electronic systems)
  • Regulatory guidance and management

Assistance with research budget and/or contract negotiations

Equipment and facilities:

  • 1 exam room
  • 1 long stay room
  • Phlebotomy station with specimen processing and storage
  • Laboratory facilities: Centrifuges, Freezer ( -20, -80)
  • Fully-equipped Pulmonary function lab
  • Cardio pulmonary exercise testing

Leadership

Sunanda Gaur, MD, MBBS

Sunanda Gaur, MD, MBBS

Professor of Pediatrics, RWJMS

Director, Clinical Research Center
Director, RWJ AIDS Program
gaursu@rwjms.rutgers.edu

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Maya Ramagopal, MD

Maya Ramagopal, MD

Assistant Director

Associate Professor
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
ramagoma@rutgers.edu

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Lisa Cerracchio, BSN, RN-BC, CCRC

Lisa Cerracchio, BSN, RN-BC, CCRC

Nurse Manager

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

cerracli@rwjms.rutgers.edu

 

Meet the Staff

Bibiana Vargas Forero, wearing a patterned shirt and a necklace with two silver people figures Bibiana Vargas Forero Clinical Research Coordinator bv230@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Christian Suarez, smiling, wearing blue suit, shirt and tie Christian Suarez Clinical Research Coordinator cjs339@shp.rutgers.edu
Christina Varghese smiling, wearing glasses and a green top Christina Varghese Clinical Research Coordinator chrisvar@rwjms.rutgers.edu
No picture available Yue Hao Regulatory Coordinator yh490@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Akhil Patel, smiling, wearing an opened collared maroon shirt and white t-shirt Akhil Patel Laboratory Technician ap2185@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Elizabeth George in a light blue top Elizabeth George, RPh, BCOP Research Pharmacist georgeem@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Katherine George smiling, wearing a short sleeved black top Katherine George, PharmD, BCPPS Research Pharmacist kathy.george@rutgers.edu
Mark Rusay wearing blue scrubs in lab, smiling Mark Rusay, PharmD Research Pharmacist mtr82@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Chethram Nauth wearing glasses and blue scrubs, smiling Chethram Nauth, CPhT Pharmacy Technician cn340@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Sherri Gzemski wearing a navy checked top, smiling Sherri  Gzemski Business Manager gzemsksa@rwjms.rutgers.edu
Bill Russell, smiling in a dark suit, white shirt and tie William Russell Respiratory Therapy Manager wdr21@rbhs.rutgers.edu
Damaris Soto, wearing glasses and a black top, smiling Damaris Soto Staff Assistant sotoda@rwjms.rutgers.edu