Research Management Services

Michigan Clinical Research Unit (MCRU)

PURPOSE:

The MCRU provides the clinical staff, resources, and infrastructure necessary to conduct human clinical research protocols at the University of Michigan. MCRU hosts investigators funded by federal, state, and local agencies as well as those funded by the private sector. MCRU also serves as an institutional resource for investigators to perform pilot studies that may result in further agency funding. Investigators whose research protocol is federally, departmentally, or philanthropically funded currently can access resources and services without fee. Industry-sponsored studies are billed differently but all research discounts apply.

Publishing Study Results: It is important that all publications resulting from studies conducted using the former GCRC & MCRU resources cite the CTSA grant number: UL1RR024986. Studies using only the former GCRC resources should credit the GCRC: Grant #M01-RR000042. The NIH searches for publications by grant recognition, and our future resources will be tied to the number of publications referencing our grant number.

MCRU Facilities and Hours of Operation:

The main MCRU location in the Cardiovascular Center (CVC) is an extended stay unit with five beds that are utilized for outpatient and overnight research activities and five exam rooms for outpatient activities. This unit is open 8 a.m. - midnight Monday through Friday and on an as-needed basis for extended stays and/or weekends. 

We also have three outpatient facilities: Lobby M at Domino's Farms, the Burlington Office Center, and the Rachel Upjohn Building. Dominos Farms operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Burlington Office Center and Rachel Upjohn Building sites are serviced per request. All of our sites are equipped to support adult and pediatric populations.

How to access MCRU:

MCRU is designed to serve as an infrastructural resource for clinical research investigators. To use MCRU, an investigator first needs to submit an application through the eResearch system. In order to utilize MCRU services, you will need to complete sections 1-2.4 and 42 in eResearch.

CLINICAL CORE SERVICES:
For a description of the MCRU resources for your grant proposal, click here.  (64KB Word document)

The MCRU provides access to research nurses, medical assistants, dietitians, mid-level providers and lab personnel. In addition, the main location houses the metabolic kitchen, specimen core and processing lab, and an exercise physiology room. See below for further details.

Mobile Clinical Research Team:

One of the valuable services provided by MICHR/MCRU is the access to our mobile research support team, MCRU 2 U. Our clinical staff provides integrated research support to clinical investigators and their study teams throughout the U-M campus and into the surrounding community. Our mobile team supports all specialized protocol specific services such as PK blood draws, ECGs etc. As part of this team we also provide access to a community-based research nurse and health worker to support study teams working with community outreach protocol specifics.

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; three-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; and developing calculated controlled menus for both extended stay and outpatient 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). Outpatient meal preparation and packaging is available, 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 CVC 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.

The MCRU has a specimen collection, processing, and shipping core laboratory that supports both extended stay and outpatient clinical research for all of our performance sites. We have a sophisticated electronic specimen freezer management and inventory system. We provide short term-storage. For long-term storage, we encourage investigators to use the MICHR Biorepository.

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. The HAL is located on 7A in University Hospital.

Meet the Crew of MCRU

MCRU Research Participant Scheduling Portal
The MCRU research participant scheduling portal was designed to facilitate research patient scheduling.

MCRU Program Director
John W. Wiley, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine

Associate Managing Director for the MICHR Research Innovation Work Group &                Clinical Manager MCRU
Cynthia L Bower, RN MS
Phone: 734.936.8086

Bionutrition Core Manager
Theresa Han-Markey, MS, RD
Phone: 734.936.8075