Fully renovated in 2019, the Clinical Research Center (CRC) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is located on 8th floor of the Stoneman and Gryzmish Buildings on the East Campus of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The CRC provides continuous space for research activity and is available for research studies conducted 24-hours per day, 7 days per week. In addition, CRC staff are able to support research in other areas of the medical center.
Bedded Rooms
The CRC contains a 4-bed sleep unit with Natus sleep recording equipment and software, ceiling-mounted video cameras, and through-the-wall blood drawing capabilities. Two of the rooms have double beds. One of the double bed rooms has a private shower, and there is a shared shower on the unit for the remaining three rooms. While the CRC hosts many sleep studies, rooms in the sleep unit may also be used for other types of studies requiring an inpatient stay.
In addition, five (5) multi-purpose private rooms are available for overnight or outpatient visits. Three rooms have private bathrooms, and two are adjacent to a shared bathroom. Private rooms are equipped with a bed, table and chairs, cardiac monitoring, call bell, and standard hospital gasses. One of the rooms is equipped with a Hoyer lift. In addition, investigators may use portable telemetry equipment within the Clinical Research Center.
Infusion Space
Within the research unit there is a dedicated room for infusions, containing three infusion bays equipped with large reclining chairs and individual televisions for patient comfort, as well as lockers, a bathroom, and two work stations.
Specialized Research Areas
Researchers using the CRC will also have access to the Research Physiology Lab, with an in-floor force plate, gait pad, and DXA for body composition and bone density measurement, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) room, and Metabolic Kitchen, specialized for preparation of nutrient-controlled meals as well as study-specific testing meals. In addition, investigators have access to specialized metabolic testing equipment including an indirect calorimeter (VMAX), treadmill with portable indirect calorimeter, and bioelectrical impedance device.
Shared Spaces
Additional shared spaces include a waiting room where study participants and patients can check in and wait to be seen, a consultation room, phlebotomy room, two work rooms (one of which is equipped with lockers), and four workstations with computers located in the sleep unit.
Laboratory
The CRC has access-restricted dedicated laboratory space for specimen processing and storage, where all samples are tracked to maintain chain of custody. Researchers can make use of a monitored and alarmed refrigerator, -20 C freezer, or -80 C freezer short term. Access to long term use of -80 C freezers is also available. An additional Biosafety Level 2 processing lab located on Dana 8 is equipped to process infectious samples, including COVID+ samples.