About
The ACTRI provides a broad range of resources to support human-centered research (HCR). Clinical research infrastructure and personnel are funded by UCSD and through a cost recovery mechanism. HCR supports ACTRI personnel and tools for training professional staff who collaborate with study teams. These collaborations help ensure proper development and implementation of protocols, safety measures, and adherence to good clinical practices.
By working closely with the Population Science (PopSci) unit, HCR also supports trial recruitment efforts. These combined efforts are expected to elevate the quality and ethical standards of human-centered research, supporting the clinical translation of discoveries across the translational continuum.
Where ACTRI Investigators go for Human-Centered Research Support
Centers for Clinical Research (CCR)
The Centers for Clinical Research (CCR) encompasses services that facilitate performing all aspects of clinical research from Idea to Innovation. More than two dozen employees – skilled nurses, a registered dietitian, a registered sonographer, clinical coordinators, project managers, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians – support the researchers who conduct clinical trials at the ACTRI.
Leads: Kathryn Gold, MD, & Mark Wallace, MD
- Facilities: The CCR occupies 18,000 square feet within the ACTRI building, provided by UCSD, and offers comprehensive clinical research services, including clinical space, nursing, pharmacy, and research coordination.
- EHR & Recruitment Tools: Works with ACTRI BIDS Unit to leverage EHR tools like MyChart for recruitment and TrialQuest to identify other UC sites conducting the same protocol. These tools facilitate reliance agreements.
- Social Media: Process improvements have demonstrated that social media is a powerful and cost-effective tool for trial recruitment, particularly for engaging research participants.
Centers for Clinical Research
Translational Research Technology (TRT)
The Translational Research Technology Division (TRT) provides a one-stop shop of flexible laboratory-based services for translational studies to members of the ACTRI and external collaborators. We support a broad range of clinical and translational research projects by providing Biorepository, Sample Acquisition, and Laboratory (bio-analytical, and assay development) services.
Lead: Kathleen Fisch, PhD
- One-Stop-Shop for Lab Services: Located in the same building as CCR, TRT offers sample processing, assays, and secure storage.
- Biobank: The biobank provides a full chain of custody for 450,000 samples, with 37,100 samples collected in 2023. Sample utilization by investigators has grown nearly 15% annually since 2018, contributing to 34 manuscripts during that time.
- Remote Support & Expansion: Developed lab support processes for remote clinical trial sites and improved pandemic readiness through CTSA collaborations.
- Future Biobank Model: ACTRI will establish its procedures and quality metrics as the standard for managing all biobanks across the center.
Translational Research Technology
PREPARE
The PREPARE Center aims to identify infectious diseases that have the potential to become global threats and develop procedures and medications to contain them before they spread. By engaging, supporting and fostering scientific discovery and implementation within the San Diego community the PREPARE Center can help us predict, prevent and mitigate local, national, global and emerging infectious threats.
Lead: Davey Smith, MD
- High-Containment Capabilities: Offers reagents, supplies, and services for diagnostics, drug development, and testing clinical samples for pathogens of pandemic potential.
- Impact & Growth: Since May 2020, PREPARE has conducted 45 trainings, 412 in vitro, and 275 in vivo high-containment experiments for 36 investigators and 27 companies. Utilization grew 7% between 2022 and 2023, driven by studies on Zika and influenza.
- Future Lab: Planning is underway for UCSD to build a new high-containment laboratory, to be managed by PREPARE.
PREPARE Center
Additional Human Centered Research Support and Resources
Training
- Clinical Research Coordinator Bootcamp: Developed by HCR faculty and staff to train learners at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate) in best practices for clinical trial conduct, sample management, and high-containment research methods.
- Pandemic Preparedness Training: Within this new training opportunity, PREPARE will be collaborating with the Game Factory to train political, public health, and scientific leaders, expanding efforts through “Serious Games” for pandemic preparedness. More information coming soon!
- Collaborations with WD Program: Training efforts are coordinated with the Workforce Development (WD) program to ensure consistency and quality. Check out the Workforce Development page for more information on their available trainings!
Research Compass
The ACTRI Research Compass is a single portal that provides resources, expertise, and best practices for our research community. Modules were designed to assist researchers throughout their research journey, from beginning to end.
ACTRI Research Compass
Clinical Trial Research Activation Roadmap
Clinical Trial Activation Roadmap
ACTRI has developed a new roadmap tool to guide Principal Investigators and study team members through the process of activating clinical trials and/ or research studies at UCSD.
This comprehensive tool provides a step-by step approach to this complex process and has the advantage of offering additional resources such as links, notes, request forms, and documents to guide our users in a one-stop-shop.
Whether used as standard operating procedure or for training purposes, this resource is part of the vision of the ACTRI to facilitate research for faculty and study teams at UCSD.
Click the button below to explore the map above and learn about each individual step
Study Activation Tracker
Study Activation Tracker
Powered by the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute
Stay informed and streamline your study process with the new Study Activation Tracker.
The Office of Clinical Research, led by Dr. Susan Little, has launched a new tool to simplify the tracking of research studies during the start-up process.
The Study Activation Tracker provides a comprehensive view of the status of initial IRB submissions, budgets, coverage analyses, and contracts—all in one place! Accessible on the ACTRI website and updated daily, you can easily monitor your study's progress using your AD login information.
Study Activation Tracker
Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.
More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.
More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.