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null Services for clinical research are going strong at the Centre for Innovative Medicine

Experts at the CIM technology platforms are on site to support clinical research

Emilie Chan-Thim uses the MasterScreen pneumo spirometer at the Centre for Innovative Medicine (CIM)
Emilie Chan-Thim uses the MasterScreen pneumo spirometer at the Centre for Innovative Medicine (CIM)

Source: RI-MUHC. Despite the pandemic, the Centre for Innovative Medicine (CIM) at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is open for business, providing shared expertise and equipment in an environment dedicated to clinical research.

Emilie Chan-Thim is an expert in exercise physiology at the CIM Functional Testing platform, and part of a skilled team that provides services for many different clinical trials. The MasterScreen pneumo spirometer is just one of the many functional tools available.

In the CIM Imaging Platform, licensed imaging technologists operate a state-of-the-art Philips Brilliance iCT 256 scanner, allowing clinical researchers to perform CT scans.

“I use the CIM CT scan services for all of the 25 industry clinical trials I conduct,” says Dr. Lucy Gilbert, senior investigator at the RI-MUHC. “It’s ideal because we are able to get appointments very quickly, and within the strict timelines defined by the protocols. The location of the scanner is also very convenient for the patients as their appointments are centralized.’’

The CIM Specimen Lab is a growing platform that handles collection, processing, storage and shipping of human specimens. A team of five personnel, all with medical technologist training, is available to provide services to support clinical trials, including blood draws, nasopharyngeal swabbing, urine collection and more. Processing includes sample preparation like centrifugation and aliquoting, as well as packaging and shipping of samples on behalf of research teams.

The CIM Specimen Lab team offers services to clinical research, including collection, processing, storage and shipping of human specimens.
The CIM Specimen Lab team offers services to clinical research, including collection, processing, storage and shipping of human specimens.

Several other specialized platforms offer services at the Centre for Innovative Medicine (CIM). The CIM Sleep Lab has four specialized technicians and three research-dedicated beds, and offers electroencephalography and polysomnography recordings, which are available with or without analysis services. The CIM Bronchoscopy Platform offers procedures by a licensed physician, while the unique, research-dedicated CIM Experimental Operating Room can be booked for unassisted clinical research procedures. The Operating Room has full audio visual recording capacity and simulation capacity.

There are multiple reasons for clinical researchers to take advantage of the services available in CIM platforms:

  • Researchers benefit from reduced rates versus industry pricing.
  • Clinical researchers can easily access expertise which may not always be available in smaller clinical teams.
  • CIM platform staff are happy to provide quotes for grant proposals. (Clinical researchers are encouraged to contact the CIM prior to grant submission.)
  • CIM services are located in the MUHC hospitals, making it easier for MUHC patients to participate in clinical trials in the same place.

RI-MUHC researchers can download the CIM Platforms 2021 price list on the RI Portal (login required).

For more information about the expertise, equipment and services available at the CIM, contact the team at clinical.research@muhc.mcgill.ca.

May 28, 2021