PLANNING GRANT FOR A MULTIPURPOSE CLINICAL RESEARCH CENT

南卡罗来纳医科大学(MUSC)提议计划发展一个多功能临床研究中心(MCRC)，名为非裔美国人硬皮病和系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)临床研究中心。该MCRC的使命将是促进我们对患有或有可能患上这些衰弱疾病的非裔美国人的临床护理和健康结果的了解。MUSC针对硬皮病和系统性红斑狼疮，这是在非裔美国人社区中发病率较高的特定疾病。MUSC最近设立了三个重点关注非裔美国人健康这一重要方面的关键要素：(1)风湿病和免疫科，在硬皮病的临床和基础研究方面有着出色的记录，现已扩大其范围，包括对SLE的研究，并建立了未来可进行涉及评估和/或结果的研究的患者基础；(2)医疗研究中心，其成员包括一批调查人员，与其他MUSC调查人员合作进行医疗服务研究；以及(3)生物统计学和流行病学系，拥有不同的教职人员和出色的新主席，在通过生物统计核心设施促进研究方面具有丰富的经验。在为期一年的规划赠款期间，三个中央组成部分的主任将在咨询委员会的帮助下，规划研究议程和确定研究项目，进一步发展研究基础，并实现提交多民族玻利维亚国提案所需的计划目标。MCRC将包括(A)以患者为中心的研究，(B)流行病学研究，以及(C)结果和卫生服务研究，与我们关于非裔美国人硬皮病和系统性红斑狼疮的MCRC愿景一致。MUSC在MCRC的保护伞下，在非裔美国人人口中进行硬皮病和系统性红斑狼疮的临床研究方面具有独特的地位。拟议的一年规划拨款将显著增强我们创建MCRC所需基础设施的能力，这最终将大大增加这一重要临床研究领域的资助活动的集中度。

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) proposes to plan the development of a Multipurpose Clinical Research Center (MCRC) entitled a Clinical Research Center for Scleroderma and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in African-Americans. The mission of this MCRC would be to advance our knowledge with respect to the clinical care and health outcomes of African-Americans who have, or who are at risk of developing, these debilitating disorders. MUSC has targeted Scleroderma and SLE, specific diseases that have a high morbidity in the African-American community. MUSC has recently developed three key elements that will focus on this important aspect of the health of African-Americans: (1) a Division of Rheumatology and Immunology with an outstanding record of clinical and basic research on Scleroderma that now has broadened its scope to include studies of SLE, and a patient base with which to conduct future studies involving assessment and/or outcomes; (2) a Center for Health Care Research with a cadre of investigators to work with other MUSC investigators to conduct health services research; and (3) a Department of Biometry and Epidemiology with a diverse faculty and outstanding new chair with extensive experience in facilitating development of research through Biostatistical Core facilities. During the one year planning grant period the Directors of the three central components, with the help of the Advisory Committee, will plan a research agenda and identify research projects, further develop the research base, and accomplish the planned goals necessary to lead to submission of the MCRC proposal. Included in the MCRC will be (a) patient-oriented research, (b) epidemiologic studies, and (c) outcomes and health services research consonant with our vision of an MCRC for Scleroderma and SLE in African-Americans. MUSC is in a unique position to conduct clinical research on Scleroderma and SLE in the African-American population under the umbrella of an MCRC. The proposed one year planning grant will significantly enhance our capabilities to create the infrastructure required for an MCRC, which ultimately would greatly increase the concentration of funded activities in this important area of clinical research.