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T T HE CCTS ALSO MAINTAINS SIX RESEARCH SERVICE CORES, which assist researchers in their studies (see "Core Support"). Faculty experts at UIC provide free consulting services and online tools for NIH- and foundation-funded research- ers, including statistical design and analysis, data management, regulatory compliance, development of research partnerships both on and off campus, and access to facilities, new technologies and other resources. So far, these service cores have provided more than 400 consultations to UIC investigators. "We hope that by making research easier, we will free up people to think more creatively and to think outside their boundaries. If you're not bogged down with the details, you might be willing to think about attempting a new project or collaboration that otherwise might be overwhelming," Mazzone says. The support cores also include the Clinical Interface Core/Clini- cal Research Center, which provides space and trained personnel to assist with clinical research studies at UIC. Previously located on the fifth floor of the hospital, the CRC moved last summer into a newly renovated, 5,300-square-foot space on the first floor of the UIC Clinical Sciences Building. "The Clinical Research Center provides a conducive space and spe- cially trained staff to make research easy for the investigators and pleas- ant for the subjects. We envision it as the central hub for clinical research on the UIC campus," says Jay Goldstein, MD, co-director of the CRC, professor of medicine and vice head for clinical affairs in the department of medicine. The new facility includes eight private exam rooms, including two intensive exam rooms with hospital beds; infusion, conference and con- sent rooms; and exercise, physiology, diagnostic and sample processing laboratories and offices. A staff of nine, including Director of Research Operations Julie Hoff, PhD, RN, seven registered nurses and an advanced practice nurse, assists investigators from all of the colleges on campus with more than 30 ongoing studies. HE THIRD MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE CENTER for Clinical and Translational Sciences is instruction, preparing investigators to con- duct translational research by educating them in research methods. "Clinicians have some educa- tion in statistics and epidemiology, but it's not in the depth that's really required to do research," explains Jack Zwanziger, PhD, director of the divi- sion of health policy and administration in the UIC School of Public Health. "There are a lot of people who, in the course of their clinical practice, have noticed things that might be significant to improving patient care but don't have the training to convert their hypothesis into an appropriate study design and to col- lect data properly." O PHOTO: SUSAN REICH NE OF THE FIRST CCTS SCHOLARS, Suma Jacob, MD, PhD, is using the program to help her foster a better understanding of the processes leading from genetic risk factors to autistic behavior. Jacob, assistant professor of psychiatry in the Institute for Juvenile Research, is trying to correlate the role of certain hormones and genetic factors with the symptoms of children with autism. Jacob received funding for her research examining the role of two neural TIME AND FOCUS peptide hormones—oxytocin and vasopressin. She is conducting a multilay- ered study that considers family genetic profiles (comparing the person with autism with unaffect- ed family members), the levels of the hormones in the subjects' blood (to see if specific genetic differences result in atypical levels) and which clinical symptoms of autism are most related to neuropeptide dysfunction. She's hoping her approach will help determine if it's safe to use oxy- tocin—which has had positive results in adults—to treat autism in children. "You want to be particularly careful with children to make sure there aren't dangerous side effects, and that treatments are safe across each develop- mental stage," she says. "Being a CCTS scholar was extremely helpful to me in getting my project started. It gave me time and helped me pay for blood assays and genotyping kits that I needed. If I hadn't had that support, I wouldn't have had time to hit the ground running to do this intensive project." CORE SUPPORT CCTS offers six Research Service Cores, directed by academics from a wide variety of UIC colleges and disciplines. Biomedical Informatics Director: Denise M. Hynes, PhD, MPH, RN, professor of public health in medicine Clinical Interface Co-director: Jay Goldstein, MD, professor of medicine Co-director: Stephen Porges, PhD, professor of psychiatry Community Engagement and Research Co-director: Carol E. Ferrans, PhD, RN, associate dean for research and professor of biobehavioral health science, College of Nursing, and co-director, UIC Center for Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities Co-director: Barbara Dancy, PhD, MSN, RN, associate dean for nursing science studies and professor of health systems science, College of Nursing Design and Analysis Director: Michael L. Berbaum, PhD, senior biostatistician and director, methodology research core, UIC Institute for Health Research and Policy Regulatory Support and Advocacy Director: Mark A. Stein, PhD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics Translational Technologies and Resources Director: Mike Johnson, PhD, director, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, and professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy Associate Director: James L. Cook, MD, Harry F. Dowling Professor and chief of infectious diseases, immunology and international medicine I L L INOI S MEDICINE | 23

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