The Research Operations and Development team provides research support services to team members interested in research within Connecticut Children's.  The department offers guidance in study development, data collection, and database construction. The Research Operation and Development team supports both grant-funded and investigator-initiated studies. We collaborate with entities within the Research Institute, including Clinical Trials, Office of Sponsored Programs, and HRRP, to ensure the success of the study. Our research support staff, consisting of highly qualified and knowledgeable research program managers, research associates, research assistants, and research students, are able to provide support in various areas, including but not limited to regulatory support (IRB, MTA, DUA), study start-up to study closeout, study logistics, database builds (REDCap, Excel), and database management. 

Leadership team

Carolyn M. Macica, MS, PhD

Director, Research Operations and Development 

Professor, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Co-Director, CCRI Scientific Center for Rare Disease
CMacica [at] connecticutchildrens.org (CMacica[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)

Danielle Chenard, MPH  
Senior Manager  
Adjunct Instructor, Goodwin University  
dchenard [at] connecticutchildrens.org (dchenard[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)

 Mary-Kate Nowobilski, BA

Research Manager

Mnowobilski [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Mnowobilski[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org) 

Rosa Rodrigues  
Administrative Project Coordinator  
Rsrodrigues [at] connecticutchildrens.org (Rsrodrigues[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)

For researchers at Connecticut Children’s, Research Operations and Development can provide research support services that include:

  • Biostatistician support  
  • Grant writing support  
  • Research staffing support (Research Assistants/Research Associates)  
  • REDCap build support  

Scientific Review Committee

Research Operations and Development also coordinates the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). SRC reviews investigator-initiated research proposals prior to submission to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The mission of the Scientific Review Committee is to improve children’s health by providing guidance and expertise to investigators at Connecticut Children’s in the development of high quality, feasible, and impactful research studies. The Committee’s goal is to ensure investigators are successful in conducting high quality, high impact research studies by reviewing proposed research methodology and making recommendations for improvement. The Committee is comprised of Research Scientists and Research Associates from the Research Institute and the Institute for Nursing Research.