Clinical Research Coordinator

The Clinical Research Coordinator will perform independently or with general direction at the fully operational journey level of the series to execute, manage, and coordinate research protocols, as directed by the Clinical Research Supervisor and/or Principal Investigator (PI); may coordinate the data collection and operations of several concurrent clinical research studies under the guidelines of research protocols, UCSF and regulating agency policies.

Incumbent's duties may include, but will not be limited to supporting the management and coordinating the tasks of single or multiple clinical research studies, depending on their size and complexity; act as intermediary between services and departments while overseeing data and specimen management; manage and report on study results; create, clean, update, and manage databases and comprehensive datasets and reports; coordinate staff work schedules, assist with training of Assistant CRCs, and assist Clinical Research Supervisor and/or PI with oversight of other research staff; manage Investigator's protocols in the Committee on Human Research online system, as well as renewals and modifications of protocol applications and the implementation of new studies; participate in the review and writing of protocols to ensure institutional review board approval within University compliance; help assure compliance with all relevant regulatory agencies; oversee study data integrity; implement and maintain periodic quality control procedures; interface with departments to obtain UCSF approval prior to study initiation; maintain all regulatory documents; report study progress to investigators; participate in any internal and external audits or reviews of study protocols; and perform other duties as assigned.

Department Overview:

The Division of Prevention Science is a leading force in prevention research innovation. We conduct transformative research, bridging communities and overcoming health inequities through high-impact prevention. The division was established within the Department of Medicine in 1991 and is the administrative home of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), and the Prevention Research Center (PRC). The division is committed to advancing knowledge in prevention and has extensive expertise in social and behavioral research applied to prevention science and the development of effective prevention interventions across several disease domains. The research focus is risk behavior and reduction; epidemiology of the virus; evaluation of HIV testing procedures, demographic variables and sexual self-identification; and training for providers who care for HIV AIDS patients. While much of the work in DPS has traditionally focused on HIV/AIDS, many investigators are doing important work in other fields including cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health, and substance abuse. The Division is composed of approximately 35 academics (faculty, fellows and specialists) and 45 non-academic staff who come from a variety of social, behavioral and policy science academic disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, epidemiology, history, political science, economics, demography, nursing, pharmacy and statistics.

The Division is home to three federally funded research centers that provide valuable infrastructure support: 1) The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health; 2) The UCSF Prevention Research Center, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 3) three evaluation centers funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration; and 4) a newly-funded research coordinating center to reduce disparities in multiple chronic diseases, funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The Division is also home to the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health and over 100 active sponsored research projects.

Responsibilities

of time ( Nothing less than 5%)

Essential Function (Yes/No )

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

10%

YES
Study Coordination and Data Collection

• Identify subjects, develop recruitment and retention strategies, and screen and enroll study subjects.
• Schedule subjects for study visits; meet with them to administer questionnaires, collect medical history and perform study procedures.
• Maintain rapport and relationships with subjects to ensure effective communication and retention; respond to their diverse needs, schedule follow-up appointments, and become their intermediary; discuss study outcomes with providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Obtain informed consent; review information with subjects; assess and advocate for patient safety throughout each protocol procedure.
• Oversee subject reimbursement; work to resolve discrepancies and issues.
• Work with staff to ensure procedures are completed, specimens properly stored, and required data collected at visits; and ensure correct shipping and labeling measures.
• Coordinate, communicate and network with other studies and technicians to ensure scheduling efficiency;communicate with any affiliated groups.
• Conduct reviews of medical charts and electronic records to extract medical information and other data for use in studies.
• Implement needs assessments and recommendations for enhancements on patient coordination, data collection, data management, protocol adherence and study collaboration.

5%

YES
Data management and reporting of results

• Collect data during subject visits; enter data from visits, procedures, lab tests, and other subject-related participation into databases in a timely manner.
• Manage database structure for each protocol; update databases to improve data analysis and management; create new databases as needed.
• Create and maintain comprehensive data sets as requested by the CRC Supervisor and/or PI.
• Maintain data collection forms for effective data collection, entry, and analysis.
• Perform queries and analysis in databases.
• Work with Supervisor to maintain complete and accurate data in the study database; analyze the data as they become available.

10%

Staff training

• Help train staff and others on new research protocols, changes in procedures, study protocols, data collection/entry, database procedures, medical chart review and storage, and other procedures.
• Attend and actively participate in regular team meetings

10%

YES

Quality control procedures

• Oversee data integrity; initiate assessments of the adequacy of existing policies and procedures on subject recruitment, data collection, and data management.
• Update and maintain a procedure manual documenting all study-related procedures; help develop a plan to ensure consistency in data collection and data entry.
• Implement and maintain periodic quality control procedures

5%

YES
Study Implementation

• Suggest modifications to the administrative infrastructure to accommodate increasing complexity of studies.
• Modify data collection instruments
• Help schedule staff time and coordinate staff schedules.
• Maintain subject tracking systems.

10%
YES
Specimen Management/ Maintenance

• Arrange the exchange of and transport of specimens with collaborating Investigators and staff.
• Oversee the incoming data interpreted from samples and ensure that it is utilized correctly for analysis and publications.
• Ensure integrity and security of samples.

30%

YES

Protocol Submissions and Adherence

• Enter all existing and new study protocols into the Committee on Human Research (CHR) online system; seek assistance on maintaining all protocols in the system by communicating with CHR Analysts.
• Design and enhance case report forms and data collection forms as needed; provide manuscript feedback; continue to develop and maintain systems for assuring protocol adherence and data quality.
• Participate in the review and writing of protocols and related procedures to ensure institutional review board approval within University compliance.
• Renew, modify, and submit CHR applications and protocols; ensure that protocol applications are submitted in a timely manner; serve as a liaison between CHR and study Investigators.
• Provide quality assurance checks to note if protocols or UCSF CHR applications need to be modified; evaluate protocols on an ongoing basis and implement improvements as needed.

20%

YES
Regulatory responsibilities

• Assure studies are carried out according to Code of Federal Regulations, Good Clinical Practice, and UCSF regulations.
• Initiate and follow-up on CHR submissions and modifications; track approval status.
• Interface with departments to obtain UCSF approval prior to study initiation.
• Maintain regulatory documents; monitor timelines for data submission; document adverse events and submit to appropriate departments.
• Use sound judgment to maintain patient confidentiality when communicating with agencies, healthcare providers, other studies, and outside departments.

Participate in and cooperate with any internal and external audits or reviews of study protocols; prepare necessary documentation.

100%
(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

Qualifications

Required:

• HS graduation and sufficient experience and demonstrated skills to successfully perform the assigned duties and responsibilities; and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Attention to detail; strong interpersonal skills; excellent, effective verbal and written communication skills to coordinate with subjects, team members, other departments and outside institutions; and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while working with a diverse subject population.
• Ability to work well independently, complete projects in a timely manner, and prioritize multiple projects to ensure the completion of essential tasks by deadlines.

Preferred:

• Ability to read and write in Spanish
• Experience with populations who use drugs
• Knowledge of research on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Fluency in the usage of Committee of Human Research (CHR) online system for submission, renewal, and modification of protocols through this system.
• Experience with electronic medical records.
• Knowledge of UCSF and departmental policies for dealing with reimbursement, guidelines for research, confidentiality and HIPPA regulations, following the UCSF mission statement and purpose for research, and a clear understanding of policies and procedures on patient safety and confidentiality (electronic and hard copy medical records, patient charts, communication, etc.); knowledge of medical terminology, research policies and guidelines, guidelines for packing/shipping infectious substances, database building/analysis, and data management within some of the following: Access, Stata, SASS/ SPSS, and Teleform programming platforms.
• Experience applying the following regulations and guidelines:

  Good Clinical Practice Guidelines

  Health Information and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

  The Protection of Human Research Subjects

  CHR regulations for recruitment and consent of research subjects

  Effective Cash Handling Procedures

  Environmental Health and Safety Training

  Fire Safety Training