About the Clinical Trial Operations Office

University of New Mexico Health established the clinical trials office to support investigators and their teams in the administrative aspects of clinical trials operations, and to create a level of excellence that will bring important clinical trials to the state of New Mexico and provide clinical trial access for those in our care. 

Values and Objectives

Our core values emphasize:

  • A culture of shared expectations regarding integrity, accountability, and decisiveness in commitment to excellence
  • Compassion and respect in our interaction with participants, sponsors, and colleagues
  • Diversity in people and thinking
  • Effective utilization of our resources

Objectives

  • Support all aspects of clinical trials operations including protocol development, contract and budget development, and operational feasibility
  • Oversee regulatory compliance and quality assurance
  • Support clinical trial billing compliance
  • Support Investigator-initiated Trial development and implementation
  • Provide clinical trial education to investigators, research staff, and clinical staff
  • Advance the mission of the clinical trials office and the institution while supporting professional and personal growth

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What is a Clinical Trial

By studying both health and illness in people, researchers and physicians understand how to better diagnose and treat and prevent illnesses. Clinical trials rely on people to volunteer in clinical research studies.

There are several types of research studies:

  • Observational: These studies monitor people in normal settings. Information is gathered and lthe data is looked at over time. 
  • Interventional (clinical trials): These studies test a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. This is the primary way new drugs are tested and approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Screening: This tests ways to diagnose a disease.
  • Preventative: The goal with these studies is to find new or better ways to prevent illnesses.
  • Quality of Life: Improving the quality of life for people who have chronic illness is important. These studies examine the best way to improve quality of life for patients.