Raising the Standard of Treatment: Wright Center joins community conversation about clinical trials and COVID-19
Lauren Harris, M.S., M.Ed., the Wright Center’s hub research capacity administrator, joined experts at VCU and VCU Health today to engage the community in Virginia Commonwealth University’s role as a clinical and translational science hub.
Harris offered participants an overview of the importance of clinical trials in human health research.
“They really show researchers what does and does not work in humans,” she said. “Trials help our loved ones live longer. They raise the standard of treatment.”
Harris promoted the Wright Center’s StudyFinder, which directs patients to clinical trials at VCU that they might qualify for.
Katie Schifano, M.S., outreach and engagement specialist at VCU’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, spoke about ResearchMatch, which connects people to trials across the country. She encouraged event participants to join the service, as well as to talk to their doctors about trials they might qualify for.
“Today’s treatments come from yesterday’s clinical trials,” said Schifano.
Finally, Mary Harmon, Ph.D., VCU Health’s director of clinical research, spoke to the rapid response to COVID-19 at VCU, which the Wright Center played a large role in. The pandemic, she said, was a chance to revamp many processes and procedures around clinical trials participation.
The goal she said, was that “every patient that walks in the door is offered the opportunity to be part of a clinical trial.” About 130 patients, she said, have enrolled in COVID-19 clinical trials at VCU Health Systems.
The event was part of the VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education’s free Community Series. The virtual sessions take place on third Wednesdays between June and October this year.
July 15 Community Series Presentation (pdf)
