The University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center is addressing the national shortage of clinical research professionals (CRPs) through a new initiative by its Clinical and Translational Sciences Center (CTSC). The program aims to recruit underrepresented students from across the state into the field.
Annette Crisanti, PhD, vice chair of research in UNM School of Medicine’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences Department, highlighted the impact of this shortage. “There are many consequences to this shortage,” Crisanti stated. “For example, a lack of research support can slow down the engine of clinical and translational research which, in turn, can curtail medical advances. Without quality professionals, research projects can be compromised.”
Universities have faced challenges such as returning federal funding or passing up research opportunities due to insufficient staff like clinical research coordinators and regulatory affairs professionals.
The new UNM Clinical and Translation Research Experience (CT-REx) program focuses on college students from rural, Native American, or Hispanic communities who are typically underrepresented in CRP positions. Key staff members from UNM CTSC—including Anupama Suryanarayana, Brandon Good, Donna Sedillo, Rachel Lukes, Debbie Lovato, Susan Tigert, Regis Lacher—and Justine Saavedra from the Division of Community Behavioral Health helped develop and implement CT-REx alongside Crisanti.
“For the first year of CT-REx, we have intentionally kept the cohort small. We have selected five students from across the state,” Crisanti said. “Two are Native American and three are Hispanic.” The students began their 10-week summer experiential course in late May.
“Our hope is to enroll a new cohort every spring with the goal of increasing class size,” Crisanti added. “We will decide how many students to enroll next year based on the need and success of this first effort.”
The program offers skill-based training in lab work, data management, participant interaction, and program evaluation along with mentorship. Students also benefit from career exploration seminars, resume writing workshops, job search strategies sessions as well as receiving housing at UNM plus some meals and a stipend.
CT-REx partners with the summer research UNM School of Medicine Undergraduate Pipeline Network (UPN), which has been active since 2009 focusing on college students interested in research and graduate education. “The collaboration has been incredible,” said Crisanti. “UPN is providing a solid foundation for the CT-REx program and will offer several team-building exercises and learning opportunities.”
Funding for CT-REx comes from an award to UNM CTSC by the New Mexico Education Department’s Technology Enhancement Fund.
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