Clinical Research Education & Training

We provide education and training to all members of the clinical research community at University Hospitals. The entire study team must complete Clinical Research Orientation, and UH Investigator Training is mandatory for all Principal Investigators. Refer to the New Researcher’s Checklist for required training.

We offer a catalog of over 50 courses but can also customize education and training to meet your needs. We schedule routine educational offerings but can schedule one-on-one and small or large group training around your team or department’s schedule. We are also happy to stop by briefly for a portion of your departmental meeting to discuss timely topics and of interest to your group at a time when you typically gather. Nearly all of our course offerings support the continuing research education credits (CREC) required to maintain Human Subjects Protections training.

CREC Certification in Human Subjects Protections

The UHCMC IRB requires all staff listed on the study personnel table be CREC Certified prior to beginning research activities. The CWRU Continuing Research Education Credit (CREC) Program is the mechanism used at University Hospitals to provide documented training, education, and certification in human subject protections. This program meets the requirements for human subjects certification and education for both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the UH IRB.

Initial entry and certification in the CREC Program is earned by successful completion of the initial core training in the protection of human subjects through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program).

Once certified, researchers must maintain valid certification by earning 12 credits every 3 years. See Investigator Manual for IRB Submissions.

Questions regarding this certification can be directed to CREC@case.edu.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training is a separate training required for all NIH-funded researchers and strongly recommended for all UH researchers. GCP principles are specific to clinical trials and include international ethical and scientific quality standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials. It also serves to protect the rights, integrity and confidentiality of study participants.

UH Investigator Training

UH Investigator Training serves as an introduction and detailed overview of the research process here at University Hospitals and highlights the essential information needed to be successful.

Completion of this course is required for all Principal Investigators and strongly recommended for all non-investigator clinical research staff.

UH Investigator Training can be accessed through the UH GPS Learning Management System.

Clinical Research Orientation

UH Clinical Research Orientation provides information about navigating the research system at UH, as well as reference materials that address working with the IRB, institutional policies and contacts, research financials, regulations that govern clinical research, and the primary duties of those conducting clinical research.

All new UH employees and credentialed non-employees engaged in research at UH are required to attend. Please email ClinicalResearch@UHhospitals.org to register.