The Wright Center Bids Fond Farewell to Amy Olex after 12 Years of Bioinformatics Innovation
After 12 years, 57 publications, and a hand in securing millions in research funding, Amy Olex, Ph.D., is leaving the Wright Center — but not VCU. Her bioinformatics pipelines powered landmark cancer research, her COVID data work shaped health policy across six countries, and her teaching, from the "Bioinformatics 101" seminar series to a graduate course still running today, brought hundreds of researchers into the fold. "I don't know of anywhere else where I would have been able to get all of that experience in one job," she says. "The Wright Center really put me in a unique position."
From A.I. to Wearables: VCU’s Wright Center awards four NIH-funded grants to accelerate medical research
RICHMOND, Va. — The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research announced today the awarding of $100,000 to four interdisciplinary research projects at Virginia Commonwealth University. These $25,000 pilot awards are funded through the Wright Center’s $27 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), […]
By finding ‘bright spots’ in the opioid crisis, VCU researchers are mapping a path to better outcomes
Rather than focusing on the areas where mortality is highest, a multidisciplinary team is putting a spotlight on communities that are performing significantly better than expected despite facing the same risks as their neighbors who are struggling.
Hydration Heroes: How clinical expertise and research rigor are transforming student health
When a Virginia school district needed to turn a hydration policy into real-world habits, they partnered with VCU Wright Center lead Melanie Bean, Ph.D.. This wasn't a top-down approach; a Community Advisory Board of parents and teachers steered the research toward vital goals like dental health and healthy weight. Students even took the creative lead, designing "Water Hero" mascots to make hydration the "cool" choice.
VCU analysis of millions of records reveals telehealth surge, persistent barriers to access
To understand the impact of the digital divide on modern healthcare, the VCU Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research supported a massive analysis of 21 million primary care visits. Led by Jong Hyung Lee, Ph.D., and Alex Krist, M.D., the study reveals that while telehealth use remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, persistent barriers like poverty and broadband access continue to limit its reach. The timing of the study is critical as emergency authorizations that allow Medicare to cover a broad range of telehealth services could expire in days.
Unlocking Research Success: Wright Center Resources for Faculty and Research Teams
At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research is dedicated to empowering faculty and research teams with the tools, guidance, and support needed to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. Whether you’re launching a new study, navigating regulatory requirements, or analyzing complex data, the Wright Center offers a wealth of resources […]
Unlocking the Power of Retrospective Research: VCU’s Guide to TriNetX, Cosmos, and EPIC
Retrospective research is a cornerstone of advancing medical knowledge, allowing researchers to draw valuable insights from existing data. However, accessing and utilizing this data can be a daunting task, particularly when navigating complex systems like TriNetX, Cosmos, and EPIC. A recent Research Town Hall at VCU, titled “How do I get the data needed for […]
Transplantation, HIV infection and immunosuppression: Wright Center scientists contribute to studies using national COVID-19 data
Organ transplant recipients and people living with HIV are more likely to experience adverse effects after contracting COVID-19. And kidney and heart transplant recipients are at highest risk. Those are just some of the conclusions coming from an international team of researchers that includes Virginia Commonwealth University data scientists. Amy Olex, M.S., and Evan French […]
Little-known resources, public access policy and data management: Eight questions with VCU Librarian Nina Exner
Nina Exner, Ph.D., calls her job a ‘funny profession.’ Being a research data librarian means different things at different institutions, but for Exner it translates largely into data management. She helps VCU researchers comply – appropriately and ethically – with the data management plans required by the government or foundations who give them grants. The […]
Join a nationwide research effort to create a healthier future for all of us
Health care is generally one-size-fits-all. When you visit the doctor, your treatments are often the same as everyone else’s. Wouldn’t it be great if your health care were tailored specifically to you? This is called precision medicine. Precision medicine takes into account: Environment — where you live Lifestyle — for example, what you eat Biology […]
