The Research Operations and Development team provides research support services to team members interested in research within Connecticut Children's. We provide education and mentoring for new investigators, medical students, residents, and fellows. 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.
Our Mission
The Department of Research Operations and Development supports the research community at Connecticut Children's by providing core research support services. We are dedicated to ensuring the success and ethical integrity of all research projects. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of research ethics, maintaining efficiency and effectiveness, and fostering collaboration and teamwork. We strive to provide exceptional service and support to all researchers, ultimately contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge and improving the lives of our patients, families and communities.
Our Vision
The Department of Research Operations and Development will create an outstanding climate of support for Connecticut Children’s researchers, broadly enabling research advances. We will play a vital role to play a vital role in fostering a supportive environment for research and enabling researchers to make significant contributions to the fields of pediatric medicine, surgery, and child health research.
Leadership team
Director, Research Operations and Development
Co- Director, Rare Disease Scientific Pillar, Connecticut Children’s Research Institute
Professor, Yale University School of Medicine,
and Frank Netter School of Medicine
Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, XLH Network
CMacica [at] connecticutchildrens.org (CMacica[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)
Danielle Chenard, MPH
Senior Research Program Manager
Adjunct Instructor, Goodwin University
dchenard [at] connecticutchildrens.org (dchenard[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)
Dana Jungbauer, MD
Research Manager
DJungbauer [at] connecticutchildrens.org (DJungbauer[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org)
Reach out to with any questions/concerns:
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
• Student research placement services
Research Operations and Development also sponsors and supports STEM and DE&I programming.
As part of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in 2020 the Department of Research Operations and Development launched programming to promote future career opportunities to high school students. The program, Support and Teamwork Resulting in Valuable Experiences (STRIVE), provides students with an overview of clinical and non-clinical opportunities at Connecticut Children's to develop an interest in pursuing such careers. Our partners include Bloomfield High School and Hartford Promise, both of these partners were selected because of the diverse student population in the systems they serve.
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 Medical Center 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.