LOUISIANA CLINICAL & TRANSLATION SCIENCE CENTER (LA CATS) RESOURCES
The Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center is Louisiana's entry point for investigators looking for clinical and translational research resources, funding support and education; and for communities wanting to learn more about research and to get involved. LA CaTS' goal is to transform the clinical and translational research efforts of our region away from the status quo, where institutions operate in isolation to pursue their institutional missions, and toward a cohesive, mutually supportive enterprise for clinical and translational research.
LA CaTS Research Toolbox : Here you can find a vast array of resources and useful links for investigators conducting clinical and translational research.
LA CaTS Center SPARCRequest : LA CaTS Center's SPARCRequest webpage is where you can search and request services across all Cores and Resources of the LA CaTS Center.
 LA CaTS ListServ : Subscribe to the LA CaTS ListServ to receive emails regarding the services offered
                  by LA CaTS, information about new funding opportunities, and notifications of events.
                  You can sign up using the Subscribe button on the LA CaTS homepage (top right) or
                  you can email Tiffany Prather.
LSUHSC Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)
            
            The LSUHSC Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) provides a unified research
                  infrastructure with an overall theme of “prevention, care and research of chronic
                  diseases in the underserved population.”  The clinical research core (LSUHSC-NO CTRC)
                  provides a clinical site located in New Orleans, LA.  The CTRC is a major component
                  of LA CaTS. The CTRC supports research activities, provides assistance with recruitment,
                  and supports a network of clinical investigators, employing a uniform and systematic
                  approach to clinical research.  The CTRC is located in the LSU Healthcare Network
                  Multispecialty Clinic Building at 478 S. Johnson Street, Room 652.  It is approximately
                  2,000 square feet and includes 5 exam rooms, 2 interview rooms, 2 offices, a medical
                  records room, core laboratory, lobby, and a nurse's station.  Parking is conveniently
                  located behind the clinic building at no charge to patients.
Who Can Use the CTRC?
Any LSU investigator or affiliate conducting an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved clinical research project may apply to use the LSUHSC CTRC on a fee-for-service basis.
To apply,complete the CTRC Protocol Application and submit it with your IRB protocol, informed consent form, and IRB approval. All requests are reviewed for feasibility and available resources.
Submit completed applications to Mary Meyaski, FNP-BC, at mmeyas@lsuhsc.edu
Download the CTRC Protocol Application
What Does It Cost to Use the CTRC?
The cost for using the CTRC and its services for a pharmaceutical or investigator initiated study will vary according to the services utilized and available funding. The CTRC will provide a cost analysis for study implementation which is subject to review and approval prior to study initiation. Study submission begins with the completion of the CTRC application in SPARC at sparc.lacats.org.
Services Provided
- Highly Skilled Nursing Staff
 - Nurse Practitioner Support
 - Sample Collection and Serial PK Sampling
 - Implement Study Questionnaire and Interviews
 - Injections
 - Assistance with Ancillary Hospital Services and Diagnostic Testing
 - LabCorp Lab Services and Assistance with Simple Specimen Processing and Shipping
 - Investigational Product/Device Oversight and Storage
 - Assistance with Study Budget Preparation
 - Assistance with Development of Study-Specific Forms (logs, case report forms, procedure flow sheets, etc.)
 - Assistance with Informed Consent Development 
 
Equipment Available
- NDD Easy-On Spirometry
 - Cosmed Bod Pod (Total Body Composition)
 - Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs Machines with Pulse Oximetry
 - Interview rooms equipped with computers for questionnaire and data input
 - EKG
 - Glucometer
 - Portable Ultrasound Machine
 
Core Lab
- Eppendorf Refrigerated Centrifuge
 - Refrigerator/Freezer
 - -80 Freezer for short-term storage
 
Contact Information
Coordinators:
Virginia Garrison, RN – vgarri@lsuhsc.edu
Mary Meyaski Schluter, FNP – mmeyas@lsuhsc.edu
Business Contact:
Carly Pigg – cgerva@lsuhsc.edu
Phone: 504-568-2266