Research Connecticut Children’s believes that research is essential to advancing medicine and improving health care for children. Our physicians, assisted by clinical staff, laboratory staff and nurses, conduct research that contributes to major medical discoveries, such as how to prevent cancer cells from multiplying, or a way to guarantee that an unborn baby will not grow up to have asthma. Basic research advances our fundamental understanding of human biology and human disease, while clinical studies involving real patients evaluate outcomes of all kinds of interventions. All research initiatives are a result of the dedicated minds of Connecticut Children’s medical professionals. Whether our staff members are driven by a desire to improve the lives of their patients, or the pursuit of new knowledge that has the potential to positively affect the lives of thousands of children, they work as a team to discover ways to make a difference in children’s health. If you are sponsoring a research study and want to discuss Connecticut Children’s participation, call 860.837.5287. Research Opportunities for Health Care Providers Connecticut Children’s supports health care professionals who wish to contribute to the medical community’s body of knowledge. Our professional research staff works with community-based investigators to help them gain access to advanced and experimental therapies for their patients. Our staff helps health care providers plan research studies, seek funding and ensure the highest standards of conduct. Learn more by reading Connecticut Children’s Disclosure Form for Intellectual Property Management. For more information about research opportunities, call 860.837.5287. Research Opportunities for Patients and Families Research studies can mutually benefit pediatric patients and the medical community. Conducted with real patients who volunteer to participate, clinical studies give young patients more management options and access to the most cutting-edge treatments available. At the same time, children’s clinical studies help us evaluate the outcomes of different interventions, which advances our understanding of disease and informs the development of better therapies for the future. We can also investigate how therapies that are approved for adults might be appropriately used to treat the same conditions in children. The staff of Connecticut Children’s Clinical Trials Unit collaborates with study volunteers, facilitating clinical research studies among physicians, nurses and participating families. Our staff has more than 35 years combined experience conducting clinical research and understands the special needs of children and families. For more information about participating in a research study, send an email or call 860.837.5870. Research Protection Accreditation The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP) promotes high-quality research through an accreditation process that helps organizations worldwide strengthen their human research protection programs (HRPPs). An independent, non-profit accrediting body, AAHRPP uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that human research protection programs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection. To earn accreditation, organizations must provide tangible evidence—through policies, procedures and practices—of their commitment to scientifically and ethically sound research and to continuous improvement. In 2009, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center became one of fewer than 200 organizations to receive this prestigious designation. As a recipient of the “gold seal,” Connecticut Children’s AAHRPP accreditation offers assurances—to research participants, researchers, sponsors, government regulators, and the general public—that our human research protection programs are focused first and foremost on excellence.
