Innovation Centers / Clinical & Translational Research / Clinical & Translational Research Center

Clinical & Translational Research Center

The purpose of the CTRC is to provide the resources necessary to facilitate translational, community-based, and multi-center clinical research projects at Meharry. We are expanding existing programs, nurturing new investigators, and encouraging full use of our services. We can conduct your study and execute your data collection. We are here to cultivate your scientific skill set and ensure you are on the road to independent research.

  • We review your studies and advise you on their feasibility.
  • We help you design and construct studies.
  • We execute your studies, drawing and processing biological samples—and collecting the necessary regulatory documents.
  • We provide you a CITI-trained nursing staff who meet regularly to discuss your protocol.
  • We offer monthly training on developments in the field of translational research.

Participate in a Trial

COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

We are currently recruiting for COVID-19 Vaccine Trials. Please complete this form or call 615-327-6820 for information about volunteering.

Advancing our understanding of how the human body works when it is healthy and developing new, more effective vaccines and therapies requires clinical research on human beings. Unfortunately, many studies end prematurely, simply because there are not enough participants who qualify and the scientists conducting studies are unable to locate new participants.

If you would like to be contacted when we have a study relevant to your age, gender, family history, disease history, or other interests, please contact us at 615.327.6820. The CTRC can also help you sign up at ResearchMatch.org, a nationwide registry that matches volunteers with scientific studies. Member institutions and their scientists can now look to the registry for a ready source of potential volunteers.

If you have questions about what it means to be a research participant, please contact the Regulatory Affairs Unit at 615.327.5654 or irb@mmc.edu.

Major Projects

EMERGE (Electronic Medical Records and Genomics) Trial: Results provided to 500 African American participants enrolled for genomic testing

Nashville Early Diagnosis Lung Cancer Project: High risk participant screening for lung cancer for a period of 5 years

PREVENTABLE Trial: Role of STATINS in elderly (>75 years of age) and dementia and cardiovascular disease-free survival

COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: Meharry’s CTRC approved as a site to conduct COVID-19 vaccines: Received $1.5M from Novavax

Bayer and AMGEN trials: Completed 2020. Closed to accrual.

IGNITE (Implementing Genomics in Clinical Practice) Trials: GUARDD-US (Genomic testing to Understand and Address Renal Disease Disparity in US) enrolling African- American participants with hypertension and chronic kidney disease for APOL-1 gene testing.

Clinical & Translational Research Center Administration Team

Margaret Trietsch

Research Coordinator II/Nurse
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 3276420
mtrietsch@mmc.edu

Sonja White

Research Coordinator II/Pharmacist
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-5524
sowhite@mmc.edu

Tanusree Singha, BS

Clinical Research Associate I/Lab Technician
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-6252
tsingha@mmc.edu

Victoria Leuang, B.S.

Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement
Office for Research & Innovation

vleuang@mmc.edu

Vaishnavi Sawalkar

Research Coordinator I
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-6420
vsawalkar@mmc.edu

Zudi Takizala, MBA, MD, MPH

Clinical Research Coordinator III
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-5827
ztakizala@mmc.edu

Clinical & Translational Research Center Research Team

Margaret Trietsch

Research Coordinator II/Nurse
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 3276420
mtrietsch@mmc.edu

Sonja White

Research Coordinator II/Pharmacist
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-5524
sowhite@mmc.edu

Tanusree Singha, BS

Clinical Research Associate I/Lab Technician
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-6252
tsingha@mmc.edu

Vaishnavi Sawalkar

Research Coordinator I
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-6420
vsawalkar@mmc.edu

Zudi Takizala, MBA, MD, MPH

Clinical Research Coordinator III
Office for Research & Innovation
Clinical & Translational Research Center

(615) 327-5827
ztakizala@mmc.edu