Clinical Research Unit

• Adult and Pediatric Waiting Rooms
• 15 Exam Rooms
• 2 Procedure Rooms
• 6 Infusion Rooms
• 4 Observation Rooms
• 3 Consult Rooms
• Study Staff Workroom
• Participant Lounge
• Metabolic Kitchen
• CLIA-Certified Processing Laboratory 

  

CRU Bionutrition services support WFBH researchers with the design, planning, and implementation of any nutrition components within their research protocols.  Our staff and facilities include Registered Dietitians (RDs) with extensive research experience and a fully-staffed Metabolic Kitchen.  The following services are provided.

Food Service

• Research diet development, analysis, and preparation
• Computer-assisted menu planning for controlled-nutrient, weighed, and metabolic diets
• On-site and pack-out research diet feeding
• Recipe development
• Computer-assisted food weigh-back system
• Aliquot preparation for meal assays
• Doubly-labeled water testing
• Food sampling to support nutrition counseling themes
• Healthy snacks for fasting visits

Metabolic Assessment

• Anthropometric body measurements
• Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurement
• Indirect calorimetry (RMR) testing
• Dietary intake data collection and analysis from dietary recalls or food records using Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software
• Nutrition screening and evaluation for feeding study eligibility
• Nutritional status and dietary history assessments
• Dietary compliance monitoring and assessment
• Vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplement intake assessment
• Food frequency questionnaire administration and analysis

Nutrition Education

• Nutrition education and counseling by Registered Dietitians
• Development of protocol-specific educational materials
• Development, implementation, and analysis of self-monitoring tools

Additional Support Services

• Consultation for development of nutrition components for grant applications and publications
• Collaboration with research team to develop nutrition-related research forms
• Student/intern training

Processing Laboratory: The CRU operates a CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory providing the following services:

• Consultation regarding specimen collection, lab-related procedures, and study-specific sample handling needs
• Processing of blood, CSF, urine, and fecal samples (includes Pharmacokinetic (PK) and Pharmacodynamic   (PD) Specimen Processing)
• Processing of Specimens during IV Glucose Tolerance Testing and Oral Glucose Tolerance testing
• Simple Isolations of Specified Cells (examples: PBMCs, T-Cells, RNA)
• Processing and Routing to LabCorp and Institutional Core Laboratories
• Preservation and Shipment of Specimens (includes Ambient, Refrigerated, and Frozen (Dry Ice) shipments)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Storage (for specimens processed in the CRU only)
• Non-Waived Testing (YSI 2300 STAT Plus Glucose Analyzer, Glucose testing only)
• Waived Point of Care Testing (HemoPoint and Urine Pregnancy)
• Real Time Results Reporting for glucose, hemoglobin and hematocrit
• We offer “Lab-Only” services for studies performing visits outside of the CRU unit and may be collecting specimens in a different location.

Equipment:

• -70C freezers
• -20C freezer
• Refrigerators
• Biological Safety Cabinet (A2) Hood
• Refrigerated (swinging-bucket) centrifuges
• Ambient tabletop centrifuges
• Micro centrifuge
• MLA Pipettes (annually serviced and calibrated)
• Mettler Scale (annually calibrated)

Equipment Monitoring and Service:

• Temperature Monitoring: Freezers, Refrigerators, and ambient room temp/humidity are on 24/7 SPOT monitoring within Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
• Equipment service and maintenance: Freezers, Refrigerators, centrifuges- all are serviced by Trimedx within Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

We appreciate your interest in our in-house CRU offering. Our dry ice service is provided for research teams needing small amounts to ship specimens. Please note that delivery is not offered; all orders must be picked up during the CRU’s regular business hours. Information on how to set up a new account and put in an order request is below. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I set up a New Dry Ice Account and SPID number?

To establish a new dry ice account with the CRU, a member of your study team will complete and submit the “New Dry Ice Account Setup” form. After the account is created, a SPID number will be generated and sent to your team by email. Please allow 2 to 4 business days for both setup and SPID assignment; both are necessary before you can request or pick up dry ice. Be sure to provide the full Chart of Account on the form for billing purposes. Submit the completed form via the general CRU mailbox (CRUAHWFB@wfusm.edu).

 

How do I put in a request once I have a SPID Number and account?

Once your account is established and you have received a SPID number, your team can request dry ice by completing the “Dry Ice Order Form.” Please send this form to the general CRU mailbox (CRUAHWFB@wfusm.edu) a MINIMUM of 24 to 48 hours in advance. The CRU dry ice service is intended for small quantity pickups. If you need 10kgs or more, email both the CRU mailbox and the CRU Lab Leadership (Andrea Hill Williams, Andrea.Williams@AdvocateHealth.org). Requests that are 10kgs or greater will be contingent on approval and supply availability. To pick up your dry ice, visit the CRU Lab on the first floor of the Sticht Center, Side B, and be sure to bring a suitable container for transport.

 

What are the current rates for Dry Ice through the CRU?

You can find our current CRU pricing (which includes current rates for Dry Ice) by using the following link: https://ctsi.wakehealth.edu/service/clinical-research/clinical-research-unit/rates

 

Where can I find the forms?

• Dry Ice Order Form
• Dry Ice Account Set-Up And Spid Assignment 

What if I need a lot of dry ice or my needs are more extensive?

If you require a substantial amount of dry ice or very frequent needs, we can connect you with our current vendor. Your team can review available options, discuss their services, and arrange to set up an account directly. Please be aware that this process is separate from the CRU, and any new vendor accounts will be managed by the study team.

CRU nurses and clinical research technicians provide patient care support for pediatric and adult research projects. 
Available services include:

• Anthropometric Measurements
• Basic Phlebotomy
• Bronchoscopy- Assist and Set-Up
• Cardiac Monitoring
• Clotting Time Procedures
• Conscious Sedation
• Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
• 12-Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Eye (chart) and Hearing Exams
• Frequently Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (FSIGT)
• Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections
• IV Infusions
• LP- Assist and Set-Up
• Medication Administration
• Melanin Scanning 
• Mental and Cognitive Testing
• Metered Walk Testing
• Muscle Biopsy- Assist and Set-Up
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Testing (OGTT)
• Pelvic Exams- Assist and Set-Up
• Pharmacokinetics (PK) Studies
• Pulse Oximetry
• Sample Collection (Blood, Sputum, Urine) (Including Saline Lock)
• Therapeutic Phlebotomy
• Vital Signs (Blood Pressure, Height, Weight, etc.)