The OSCTR provides several resources to aid in the development and execution of clinical and translational research for investigators at OSCTR partner institutions.
OSCTR Research Navigator Service
Assists junior investigators or other investigators new to clinical research across Oklahoma. The OSCTR Research Navigator service serves as an initial point of contact to integrate with institutional services (e.g., IRB, grants accounting, and ORA) and clinical research services to help develop junior investigators' new and ongoing clinical research efforts
Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Consultations
The OUHSC Biostatistics and Epidemiology Faculty, funded by the OSCTR, are available for initial data analysis and research design consultations. After the initial consultation, additional assistance may be available depending on its alignment with OSCTR goals and investigator status.
Clinical Trials/Research
OSCTR also provides physical space and dedicated personnel to assist with clinical research projects for supported investigators. Through subcontracts with the Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board and Chickasaw Nations, OSCTR funds full-time staff members to help tribal and Indian Health Service health systems expand the availability of clinical trials to tribal patients.
Learn how to work with clinical resources
Registries and Repositories
Through a subcontract with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the OSCTR provides opportunities to assist with the development of registries and repositories of clinical research information and/or samples from patients or healthy control tribal populations, which are managed and controlled by junior investigators or teams of CTR scientists.
Tribal Engagement Unit
Dr. Lancer Stephens works with tribes and OSCTR researchers to identify collaborative research projects that respond to tribal health priorities and advance scientific knowledge. He is available to help forge new collaborations, identify potential interested tribal partners, and facilitate the education/recruitment of tribal populations in clinical research studies.
Learn more about the Tribal Engagement Unit
Community Engagement
Through a subcontract with the University of Oklahoma, the OSCTR supports the development of Community Engagement Studios for investigators to develop connections with stakeholders. Along with the Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network (OKPRN) and Oklahoma Primary Healthcare Improvement Cooperative, the OSCTR develops practice-based research networks in pediatrics and tribal health and implementation research efforts. Services are available to educate and assist house staff (and faculty) members to participate in translational think tanks and academic activities to develop a research question, critically review the literature, and develop publications answering those questions.
Pilot Projects
The OSCTR identifies and funds five pilot projects each year ($50,000/year in direct costs) to support clinical and translational research projects that focus on health issues of concern to Oklahomans. Individuals will be encouraged to work with statistical, research design, and clinical OSCTR consultants to develop these proposals. Funded (and meritorious but unfunded) investigators are assigned a mentoring team to assist with the project and the procurement of additional national funds for the continuation of the research and career development.
Training
OSCTR provides training in various aspects of clinical and translational research for junior investigators and scientists new to clinical research. This training includes (1) integrating CTR concepts, lectures, and mentoring into research programs; (2) providing a renovated clinical scholars research experience for students between the first and second years of medical school in CTR; (3) supporting the MS in Clinical Investigation; (4) mentoring junior investigators in Oklahoma with career development awards (e.g., K08, K23, and national foundation awards) and through the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence; and (5) providing the OSCTR Scholar program, which consists of mentored CTR experiences partnered with development of a clinical research project for external funding.