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Department of Pediatrics Heersink School of Medicine

Child Health Research Unit (CHRU)

The Child Health Research Unit (CHRU) is a partnership between Children’s of Alabama, the UAB Department of Pediatrics and the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). The Pediatric Research Office manages the unit. Tours are available for prospective teams; contact Melissa McBrayer.

caution.jpegThe CHRU is required to generate revenue to support the activities of unit support personnel, to maintain equipment, restock disposable items, and cover the general upkeep. ALL industry-sponsored research studies must include CHRU costs. Please contact Cheryl Perry for budget information.

To utilize the CHRU, including the centrifuges located in the laboratory:

  • All protocols must have a designated, protocol-specific physician with primary responsibility for the safe conduct of the study and must have IRB  approval. Dr. Dan Feig is the CHRU Medical Director.

  • Complete the one-page CHRU Application and submit it with the required attachments to Cheryl Perry. 

  • Add the research study to Children's of Alabama Epic. See information on COA Epic Study Start-up here.

  • Once approved, contact Melissa McBrayer  for a safety overview and the scheduling process (reservation form).

The CHRU provides space; investigators supply their own Research Coordinator and support staff. Two UAB programs provide staff and services.

  • The UAB Clinical Research Support Enterprise (CReSt) is a fee-for-service entity that may provide study coordination, phlebotomy service, regulatory form application completion, etc. Contact cctsclinical@uabmc.edu for more information. 

  • The UAB Center for Injury Science's Research Assistant Program is a fee-for-service program with expertise in screening, recruitment, enrollment in the hospital setting. Contact Shannon Stephens for more information.

The CHRU maintains the following for research use. Directions to the CHRU and information on parking are available here. 

  • Triage room with scales and stadiometer

  • Exam rooms

  • Laboratory with two table-top centrifuges and -20 freezer for short-term storage

  • Conference room space

  • Locked storage space for team supplies

  • A -80 freezer is available on the 7th floor of Dearth Tower for short-term storage. Longer-term use is available on a case by case basis.