The University of Rochester Medical Center has reopened its renovated Clinical Research Center, restoring and enhancing a critical resource for clinical studies across the institution, according to a March 31 announcement.
The reopening is important because it provides improved facilities for clinical research, supporting efforts to turn scientific discoveries into new treatments for patients.
David Linehan, MD, CEO of URMC and dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, said, “The new Clinical Research Center will accelerate our ability to move research discoveries from the lab into innovative treatments that improve the lives of patients.”
The reopening comes after a multi-year recovery and renovation process that followed significant flooding. The effort involved teams from School of Medicine and Dentistry operations, Space Planning, Facilities and Services, CTSI and CRC leadership and staff, Environmental Services, as well as other groups at the Medical Center.
Martin Zand, MD, PhD, co-director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute with Karen Wilson, MD MPH said: “When the flood happened, the priority was clear: maintain continuity for study participants and investigators while planning for a full restoration of the space. The rapid relocation effort was extraordinary, and the result today is a facility that is better equipped to support best-in-class clinical research.”
According to URMC officials in their statement about improvements at the center: The facility now has 30% more rooms for patient visits than before. It includes two overnight rooms; an expanded pediatric area; a lactation room; seven exam rooms; six updated infusion bays; specialized procedure rooms including one for muscle biopsies; dedicated spaces for bone density scans and imaging; a specimen laboratory; workspace areas for investigators and coordinators; as well as a neurology mobility lab.
Health leaders say these upgrades are expected to enhance ongoing health research efforts throughout both clinical settings at URMC and in broader community-based studies.
