Clinical Research Center: CRC

The Clinical Research Center (CRC) offers MIT undergraduates unique opportunities to participate in projects in clinical and clinically related areas of laboratory investigation. The CRC, through its collaboration with the Harvard Clinical Translational Science Center  and Boston major teaching hospitals, provides broad opportunities for multi-disciplinary investigation, from the laboratory to the bedside. Active areas of interest to the CRC faculty and staff are listed below. Students are encouraged to contact the principal investigators of the individual projects that best match their areas of interest to discuss their possible collaboration. (They can obtain the names of these investigators by contacting the CRC’s Administrative Office, 3-3091, or from the list below). Some areas of Investigation within the program include:

Nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. This area involves studies on healthy and ill humans, aimed to determine nutritional requirements, nutrient interactions and nutrition pharmacology.

Neurosciences and behavior. This area includes the effect of drugs on memory functioning of aging subjects with memory impairment. This area also involves the treatment of cognitive defects after stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease. Some of these investigators have been using computers to accelerate recovery from stroke.

Endocrinology. This area involves studies on diabetes prevention, regulation of hormone secretion and treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Metabolic alterations during pregnancy. This area involves the study of metabolic alterations in women after having a pregnancy complication by either hypertension or diabetes.

UROP students have comprehensive training in clinical investigation, with exposure to basic principles of clinical research. This includes exposure to patient care seminars and conferences directed at translating research findings into clinical application. The students also usually take the CRC’s undergraduate seminar (HST-S12).

Safety and Ethics: the CRC requires all new personnel to read our safety and chemical hygiene plan and be given an orientation tour. Additional safety training is given as necessary. UROPS must also pass a computer-based test related to the ethics of clinical research.

Further Information: See Awards & Funds for information on funding that may pertain to your research. Follow all UROP procedures for pay or credit.

Principal Investigators who sometimes take UROP students:

John Gabrieli, Ph.D., MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, 46-4033, gabrieli@mit.edu

Research aims to understand principles of brain organization that are consistent across individuals, and those that vary across people due to age, personality, and other dimensions of individuality. Examine brain-behavior relations across the life span, from children through the elderly.

Steven Grinspoon, M.D., MGH, Neuroendocrine Unit., Bulfinch 457,

55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, 617-726-3890, sgrinspoon@partners.org

Understanding the mechanisms that cause abnormal fat distribution in people with AIDS.

Anne Klibanski, M.D., MGH, Neuroendocrine Unit, Bulfinch 457,

55 Fruit St, Boston, MA  02114, 617-726-7948, aklibanski@partners.org

Studies involving bone loss and cognitive problems in women and adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Madhusmita Misra, M.D., MGH, Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Yawkey 6,

55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, 617-726-2909, mmisra@partners.org

Studies involving the role of growth hormone in pediatric obesity.

David M. Nathan, M.D., MGH Diabetes Unit, Bulfinch408,

55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02241,617-726-2555, nathan@gcrc.mgh.harvard.edu

Studies on diabetes prevention, regulation of hormone secretion and treatment of endocrine disorders.

Leona Samson, Ph. D., MIT Center for Environmental Health Sciences,

56-235, 617-258-7813, lsamson@mit.edu

Research aims to understand the biology, the biochemistry, and the genetics of numerous DNA repair pathways that act upon DNA alkylation damage.

Lee Schwamm, M.D., E18-437, 617-724-1597, lschwamm@partners.org

Treatment of cognitive deficits and stroke. These projects aim to improve cognitive deficits after stroke.

Ravi Thadhani, M.D. MPH, MGH, Founders 036, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114,

617-724-1207, rthadhani@partners.org

The elevations in blood pressure sometimes seen in pregnancy.