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Clinical Research Facility - Cork (CRF-C)

Description

The Health Research Board (HRB) Clinical Research Facility, Cork (CRF-C) is a collaboration between University College Cork (UCC) and the Health Research Board.  The facility's administrative centre and its adult research unit are located here in MUH and the paediatric discovery unit is based on the Cork University Hospital campus.  The research support hub maintains a variety of research offices and units located throughout UCC and its affiliated hospitals, which cover the southern and south-western part of the Republic of Ireland with a total catchment area of almost 1 million subjects.

The facility was established to promote excellence in the design, safe conduct and analysis of patient-focused research.  It provides the necessary space, expertise and equipment to allow medical professionals in Munster to work at the very cutting edge of clinical research.  The HRB CRF-C allows breakthroughs in laboratory research in drug food therapy, food supplementation and medical devices to be converted into better and safer treatments for patients in a timely and efficient fashion.

Researchers test potential new patient therapies and compare the risks, benefits and cost effectiveness of established treatments.  In conjunction with the UCC Department of Epidemiology, it supports studies that gather information and samples from patients with given conditions in order to better understand the causes and consequences of these illnesses.  

The facility provides a gateway that allows local researchers to integrate with the research work of colleagues both nationally and internationally and to ensure that the most current advances in treatment are available in Cork.

The HRB CRF-C supports research undertaken through UCC and affiliated hospitals, as well as in the primary care setting.  It is funded by the HRB and is operated as a joint venture with UCC, CUH and MUH.

Purpose

The purpose of the CRF-C is to provide the dedicated infrastructure, experienced research / support staff and the necessary quality and oversight programs that are critical for the successful conduct of world-class patient-focused research.

Vision

Our vision is to position UCC at the forefront of patient-focused research within Ireland and to enhance its international reputation for research excellence.  We aim to promote excellence in the efficient and cost effective design, conduct, analysis and teaching of patient-focused research and to mitigate all elements of risk associated with such research to the fullest extent possible.

The CRF-C supports a wide range of academic and commercially funded research, including both interventional trials and observational studies, across pharmaceutical, nutriceutical, medical device and care pathway themes. 

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Study Guidance

The staff at the CRF-C are happy to guide your study from the conceived idea through funding application, sponsorship, regulatory and ethical submission, data collection, analysis, reporting and dissemination.  Grow your research at the CRF-C.

The CRF-C provides the following levels of support:

Major:

Comprehensive support provided for the on-going running of the study.

Minor:

On-going support provided for limited aspects of the study.

Limited:

Support provided for a specific activity at a single point in time.

Team

The HRB CRF-C has a core staff of 16, including Prof. Joseph A. Eustace (Consultant Nephrologist, CUH and HRB CRF-C Program Director), along with 5 dedicated research nurses, a business manager, data manager, research pharmacist, biostatistician, senior lecturer in research methodologies and a quality / regulatory affairs manager.

Prof. Joseph A. Eustace - Director

David Beechinor - Operations Manager

Dr. Francis Shiely - Senior Lecturer

Dr. Darren Dahly - Senior Lecturer

Dr. Evelyn Flanagan - Data Manager

Dr. Ruben Keane - Regulatory and Quality Affairs Manager

Mary Claire O'Regan - Centre Manager

Damian O'Driscoll - Academic Study Coordinator

Maire McCarthy - Study Monitor

Liam Ramsell - Budgetary Analyst

Orlaith Aherne - Research Administrator

Aoife Quinlan - Research Administrator

Jean Scully - Executive Assistant

Sarah O'Meara - Research Assistant

Maeve Kelsey - Research Nurse

Jean Foley - Research Nurse

Deirdre Flynn - Research Nurse

Aisling Murphy - Research Nurse

Location

2nd floor, main hospital (MUH).

 
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Contact

353 (0) 21-493 5150

Website:  www.ucc.ie/en/crfc

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.