NICHD Neonatal Research Network Clinical Center - Case Western Reserve University

The Multicenter Network of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NRN) was established in 1986 to rapidly design, conduct, and publish studies in high priority areas. Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is one of only two centers that has been part of the NRN, and contributed to its impact on the health of infants, since 1986. We enthusiastically look forward to the prospect of continuing our participation in the NRN. We will demonstrate that we continue to unquestionably meet all the requirements for inclusion as a clinical center. Our personnel are unparalleled in their expertise and productivity, as evidenced by our high enrollment rates and follow-up rates which typically exceed 90%. Our dedicated personnel recruit 24/7 including nights, weekends, and holidays. Our medical and nursing staff wholeheartedly believe that patient care is improved through research, encourage families to participate, and are committed to rigorous adherence to protocols. As the only level III/IV NICU in our health system with essentially no back transport, high risk mothers and infants are concentrated at our center and we are ideally poised to enroll and follow high risk mothers and infants in clinical trials. This includes an ideal setting for antenatal consent or consent in the first 24 hours after birth. Our team has a proven track record for recruiting and retaining diverse populations, and a long-standing commitment to research that will improve NICU care for all infants. We have a full complement of pediatric subspecialists who are supportive of the NRN and enthusiastic to participate in trials. CWRU investigators have shown themselves to be collaborative with other centers, and have assumed leadership roles in the NRN. We have set the standard for long term follow-up. CWRU has consistently enhanced the productivity of the NRN in every cycle by mentoring new centers to enable them to rapidly implement NRN procedures and protocols. The NRN has strong support from the CWRU School of Medicine, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital (RBC) and MacDonald Women’s Hospital, The Departments of Pediatrics and Reproductive Biology, and the Divisions of Neonatology and Maternal Fetal Medicine. In the next cycle of the NRN we will continue to lead and innovate.