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Since its establishment in 1921, both basic and clinical research have been fundamental to the mission of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Medical and scientific research is performed in the environment of constant contact with patients to give the work an urgency that is impossible when scientists work in isolation in a laboratory.
Basic Research
At the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, basic scientific research is conducted both in research labs based in clinical departments, and through the Lerner Research Institute. Many Cleveland Clinic staff members hold appointments in both a clinical department and at the Lerner Research Institute.
The Lerner Research Institute is an integrated research community where collaboration and interaction are fostered and prized. With more than 125 staff investigators and annual research expenditures exceeding $70 million, it is one of the largest private research facilities in the country. In 1997, Lerner Research Institute received $60 million in external grants, contracts and other revenues.
Scientists at the Research Institute collaborate extensively with their clinical colleagues to find scientific solutions to specific medical problems.
Clinical Research
Each year thousands of patients are referred to the Cleveland Clinic for state-of-the-art care and participation in clinical trials.
The Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board ensures the safety of all individuals participating in clinical trials.
Institutional review boards are committees required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect humans who are participating in medical research. This research can include experimental drugs or devices. At the Cleveland Clinic, the board is made up of physicians, nurses, bioethicists, attorneys, a social worker and lay members. This board reviews all research on humans before it begins to ensure that anyone participating in this research is informed of the potential benefits and risks before they agree to be part of the study. This is done by reviewing the research plan and an informed consent document, which requires the patient’s signature. The activities of the Institutional Review Board are monitored by the FDA.
If you have questions about your rights as a research subject,
you can contact the IRB office at: 216/444-2924 or via e-mail at:
[email protected].
A list of clinical trials seeking volunteers
is available in the Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center.
To determine if a specific clinical department is offering clinical trials,
check the department’s web site or call the department’s main number.
If you do not know the department’s telephone number, call 216/444-2200,
or visit the web site phone directory.
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