The research subject advocate at the University of Hawai'i Clinical Research Center: an added resource for protection of human subjects.

In early 2001 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the Research Subject Advocate (RSA) position as an additional resource for human subjects protection at NIH-funded Clinical Research Centers (CRCs) to enhance the protection of human subjects participating in clinical research studies. The purpose of this article is to describe the RSA position in the context of clinical research, with a particular emphasis upon the role of the RSA in one of the five CRCs funded by the NIH Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program. Through participation in protocol development, informed consent procedures, study implementation and follow-up with adverse events, the RSA works closely with research investigators and their staff to protect study participants. The RSA also conducts workshops, training and education sessions, and consultation with investigators to foster enhanced communication and adherence to ethical standards and safety regulations. Although it is too early to provide substantive evidence of positive outcomes, this article seeks to illuminate the value of the RSA position in ensuring that safety of research participants is accorded the highest priority at CRCs. Based upon initial results, we conclude that the RSA is an effective mechanism for achieving the NIH's goal of maintaining the utmost scrutiny of protocols involving human subjects.

The Clinical Research Center of Hawaii: a nine year progress report.

The UH-CRC is an NIH minority funded infrastructure program at the University of Hawaii in partnership with Hawaii Pacific Health, now in its ninth year. The main purpose of the UH-CRC is to foster clinical research at UH in order to improve the health of the citizens of Hawaii, particularly those who suffer disproportionately from disorders affecting these communities. This status report documents the continued success and progress of the Center Manuscripts published or in press have increased from an average of 43 in years 1-3 to 54 in years 4-6 to 84 for years 7-9. Actual dollars received per year ranged from 1-7 million dollars the first 6 years, but reached 8-22 million dollars the last three years. This status report also documents the mandate for this clinical research infrastructure program to compete successfully for mainstream funding status by 2010.

Six years and counting: the NIH-funded Clinical Research Center of Hawaii.

The CRC was developed in 1995 to make Hawaii a site of innovative, progressive research. Since then, the numbers of researchers and publications supported by the CRC have increased. In the next several years, the CRC will expand further into Hawaii's research community and apply for GCRC status, a strategy that will attract even more resources and investigators to JABSOM.