Crozer-Chester Medical Center participates in a wide range of clinical research, that is, research involving people.  There are several different types of clinical research that is ongoing at Crozer: 

• Drug company-sponsored clinical trials involving both new drugs and devices
• National Cancer Institute sponsored clinical trials
• Investigator initiated research

Drug company sponsored clinical trials are the most common type of research done at Crozer.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires these trials before approval of a new drug or device or the new use of an existing drug or device.  These trials are used to test safety and effectiveness.  For more information about the drug development process, you can visit the FDA website at www.fda.gov.

All new clinical trials that utilize a Crozer hospital facility, enroll inpatients in a Crozer facility and/or involve Crozer employees or network physicians, must be evaluated and approved by Crozer’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).  The Crozer’s IRB is responsible for review of research at Crozer Chester Medical Center, Springfield Hospital, Taylor Hospital, Community Hospital and the Healthplex.  All investigators and individuals involved in a research project must provide evidence of satisfactory understanding of research ethics and practices through completion of a certification course.

If you are a new investigator or want to learn more about the processes that must be followed to conduct research at Crozer, the Manual for Research Investigators© is available in the Manual Content link to your right.  More information and the forms necessary for submission of a research protocol are available by clicking on Manual Appendices to your right. You can also obtain these forms in hard copy by contacting the Institutional Review Board (IRB) office at 610-447-6857 or 610-447-6010.