Clinical Research Unit Personnel
Our research staff receives specialized training to facilitate research protocols that range from simple outpatient encounters to intensive studies requiring invasive procedures and multiple-day hospital admissions. The CRU handles all phases of clinical trials and welcomes complex studies that may require inpatient stays and the ability to call an emergency code team if needed. Our team can provide:
- Nursing support studies at CRU venues and "mobile nursing" for studies carried out elsewhere in the University Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, and other off-site locations
- CRU locations include an outpatient clinic, inpatient space and space for COVID + participants
- Dedicated research pharmacy staff
- PhD trained exercise physiologist
- Metabolic and dietary services in partnership with the College of Health
Let us show you how we can consistently execute exceptional patient-oriented research, ensure research integrity, and provide quality care and patient safety for our participants.
Clinical Research Unit Services
Resources provided include, but are not limited to the following:
- Traditional Clinical Care for all ages (newborn through geriatric)
- Clinical measurements per protocol (Vital Signs, Height/Weight, Daily I/O, etc.)
- Venous access
- Specimen/Sample collections
- Specimen processing (centrifuge and aliquot)
- Medication administration (injections, infusions, oral meds, etc.)
- Protocol-specific procedures, including but not limited to
- Skin biopsies
- Assistance with muscle/kidney/liver/fat biopsies
- Pediatric and Adult Moderate Sedation per UofU Hospital Standards
- Assistance with endoscopic procedures
- Participant education
- Preparation and recovery for sedated procedures
- OGTT studies
- IVGTT studies
- Insulin clamp studies
- YSI testing for immediate blood sugar values
- Pediatric neurocognitive assessment
- Telemetry
- Bedside EKG monitoring
- Calorimetry
- Research nursing during exercise studies
- Research nursing during apheresis/plasmapheresis
Questions?
Please contact Sharon Ugolini for more information or questions.
Bone Densitometry and Body Composition
Dual Energy Absorptiometry (DXA)
The bone and body composition suite operates a Hologic Discovery DXA scanner in area A31 in the University of Utah Hospital. It is a flat-bed, C-arm scanner that uses fan-beam technology to acquire an areal image. DXA analyzes bone mass and body composition (fat and lean tissue) and can be used for children and adults.
The Hologic Discovery DXA is capable of producing the following scan types:
- Total body (subregion analysis also available)
- A/P lumbar spine pair
- Supine lateral lumbar spine pair
- Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA)
- Proximal femur (Hip)
- Distal femur
- Forearm
We use APEX software version 2.3 from Hologic, Inc. for scan analysis and an FDA–approved pediatric reference database. The FDA–approved pediatric reference database provides Z-scores for lumbar spine and whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) for children ages 3–20 years. Hip BMD Z-scores are provided for children ages 5–20 years.
Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT)
The bone and body composition suite also house a Norland Stratec XCT 2000 pQCT. pQCT measures bone density at peripheral skeletal sites by acquiring a three-dimensional image. Using "CAT" scanner technology, pQCT provides a detailed analysis of both trabecular and cortical bone compartments at the forearm and tibia. Aside from volumetric bone mineral density, other parameters measured include bone mineral content, bone area, cortical thickness and strength, and cross-sectional muscle area.
Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS)
The bone and body composition also house a Sunlight Omnisense 8000 to evaluate bone strength via quantitative ultrasound (QUS). QUS operates on the axiom that the speed of sound (SOS) is directly proportional to the density of the material through which it travels. The speed at which the sound propagates through the bone is calculated as the time between sound transmission and receipt.
SOS can be done at the mid-shaft tibia or 1/3 distal radius. Three to five consecutive measurement cycles are performed, after which SOS (m/s) is determined and an appropriate score (Z-score or T-score) is reported. QUS can be performed on adults, children, term and pre-term infants, is portable, not associated with ionizing radiation, and measurements can be completed on most participants within 30 minutes.
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) may capture complementary information on adiposity and nutritional status that is not thoroughly captured by anthropometric indices, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference or skinfold thickness. BIA is a simple and non-invasive method of measuring the body's resistance and cell capacitance to a small electrical current. This technology is based on the axiom that electrical conductivity is greater in fat-free mass (FFM) than fat mass since FFM contains nearly all of the body's fluids and electrolytes. Total body water (TWB) can be calculated from the resistance and capacitance, yielding an indirect measure of fat-free mass.
Questions?
Please contact Hillarie Slater for more information or questions about the bone densitometry and body composition suite services.