Research Support Units

Michigan Clinical Research Unit (MCRU)

Services

MCRU Resources Page: For a description of the MCRU resources for your grant proposal click here. (64KB Word document)

Nursing:
A highly skilled research nursing staff experienced in the performance of sophisticated clinical studies is available. The MCRU also has a nurse practitioner and physician assistant available Monday-Friday to assist investigators in routine daily monitoring of participants.



Mobile Clinical Research Team:
Our nursing staff provides mobile research support to investigators and study teams throughout the medical center and into the community. The Mobile Clinical Research Team (MCRU-"2U") was a new initiative started this past summer and has been extremely successful in the provision of off site support.

Cyndi Boersma

Bionutrition Core:
Research dietitians, a research subject coordinator and an experienced metabolic kitchen staff provide comprehensive nutrition services for research protocols, which is available to all investigators. The research dietitians are available to perform nutrition assessments using a wide variety of methods including:

  • 24-hour dietary recalls utilizing the USDA 5 pass method;
  • 3-day food diary instruction;
  • Dietary intake analysis via Nutrient Data System for Research (NDSR);
  • Validated food frequency questionnaires;
  • Individualized nutritional counseling, including weight loss and/or maintenance;
  • Evelop calculated controlled menus for both extended stay and out patient use;

The metabolic kitchen supervisors are experienced in developing, preparing and delivering timed calculated meals. The various menus and diets developed to meet the needs of past and current protocols include: limited copper; specified calories with various macronutrient distribution; Ketogenic; CYP450 restricted; and severe sodium restriction (<450 mg). Out patient meal preparation and packaging is available too as well as gram weight measurement of pre- and post- meal delivery.

The bionutrition core includes a trained DEXA (duel energy x-ray absorptiometry) technician. Personnel have performed in excess of 500 DEXA scans/year. This technology is a "gold standard" in body composition analysis and bone density measurement. The DEXA machine is a GE Lunar Prodigy ADVANCE Plus and is located at the Med Inn MCRU site.

The bionutrition core performs body composition measurements using RJL bioelectrical impedance analysis system (available with accompanying software to estimate total body water, body fat, and water compartments) and Lange skinfold calipers to define body fat and muscle compartments.

The core staff uses a Viasys Healthcare Vmax Encore VS 29n Indirect Calorimetry System to assess resting energy expenditure in pediatric and adult populations using both mouthpiece/nose clip and canopy attachments to facilitate measurement.

Jeff Braziunas

Specimen Management:
The MCRU has a specimen collection, processing, and shipping core laboratory that supports both extended stay and outpatient clinical research.

Human Applications Lab (HAL):
Located at the University Hospital, the Human Applications Laboratory (HAL) is a specially designed facility for the culture and manipulation of human cells and the manufacture of gene transfer vectors within a clean, controlled, and monitored environment.

Bio-imaging:
The Biomedical Imaging Core (BIC) is available to all investigators. All protocols involving imaging, such as functional MRI or PET scans, will be reviewed by the Biomedical Imaging Core. The Core Director is Dr. Kirk Frey, M.D. For a more detailed description, click here.