UH Clinical Research

08/11/2025

07/08/2025

Did you know? In 1994, Susan Shurin, MD, performed the first umbilical cord transplant to treat childhood leukemia, using cord blood stem cells from the patient's newborn sister.

UH Seidman Cancer Center is the only cancer center in Ohio to perform haplo-cord transplants as a treatment for leukemia. This type of transplant combines two sources of stem cells (adult and donated umbilical cord blood) for a more effective treatment with fewer side effects. Read more about the current state of haplo-cord transplant research: https://www.uhhospitals.org/for-clinicians/articles-and-news/articles/2024/12/uh-seidman-expert-argues-for-more-focus-on-combination-haplo-cord-transplant

06/23/2025

The UH Urology Institute, led by Chairman Lee Ponsky, MD, FACS, is consistently ranked in the top 25 for NIH research funding with a 150% increase in research grants awarded from 2018 to 2020 resulting in nearly 150 publications in 2020 alone.

Learn more about the UH Urology Institute: https://www.uhhospitals.org/for-clinicians/specialties/urology/urology-reimagined

06/03/2025

Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month is observed annually from May 15 to June 15 to raise awareness, educate the public, promote advocacy, and celebrate the Tourette's community.

University Hospitals has been at the forefront of Tourette Syndrome research for over 20 years. UH was the first site to receive FDA approval to test the treatment of medically refractory Tourette Syndrome with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), and continue to research the use of DBS in the treatment of other neurological conditions. Read more about this important research here: https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/neurology-and-neurosurgery-services/conditions-and-treatments/deep-brain-stimulation

05/27/2025

According to the World Health Organization, surgery is often the primary treatment to alleviate disabilities and reduce mortality from common conditions, with millions of people undergoing procedures annually, contributing to an estimated 13% of global disability-adjusted life years.

Join us for an interactive panel discussion on surgery research. In this webinar, you will learn about the current state of surgery research at University Hospitals, gain insights into patient care improvements for surgery research, and learn the panelists' personal journeys into clinical research.
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Guest Panelists: ⁠
- Raymond Onders, MD
- Aasef Shaikh, MD, PhD
- Jennifer Sweet, MD
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All are welcome!
Register: https://bit.ly/4kfIAwk

Learn more:
Department of Surgery Research: https://www.uhhospitals.org/uh-research/department-research/surgery-research
Neurology and Neurosurgery Research: https://www.uhhospitals.org/uh-research/department-research/neurology-and-neurosurgery-research

05/14/2025

Don't forget to join us next week for all our Clinical Trials Awareness Week events! May 19-May 23. Register at bit.ly/CTAW2025

05/09/2025

In recognition of 2025 Nurses Week, we would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our CRC nurses! Your work is important, and we are so grateful to have you on our team! 💙

05/09/2025

May 6 - May 12 is National Nurses Week! To celebrate, please join us as we recognize Lisa Edgehouse, BSN, RN, a Breast Oncology Research Nurse, and Jill-Severino, MSN, RN-BC, the Research Nurse Manager, in the Seidman Clinical Trials Unit.

Incredibly, Lisa just celebrated her 40th service anniversary at University Hospitals! She is known for always greeting people with a warm smile. She puts patients at ease with her humor and easy going attitude.

Jill is a dedicated, trusted, selfless, and compassionate leader. Whenever issues arise, she is by her team’s side to support and problem solve together.

Please join us in celebrating Lisa and Jill and their dedication to healthcare and research. We’re so thankful they’re part of the SCTU and the Clinical Research Center! 💙

05/09/2025

May 6 - May 12 is National Nurses Week! To celebrate, we are delighted to recognize Kim Berkley, RN, a Research Nurse at the Dahms Clinical Research Unit (DCRU).

Kim’s manager says she consistently goes above and beyond for both her patients and her colleagues. Her peers describe her as "helpful" and a "great team player."

Kim plays a key role in managing both non-oncology and oncology daily nursing charges. She is known as a "bright face in the unit" and brings a positive attitude to every shift. Even when she is extremely busy, Kim always makes time to support her team. Patients describe her as patient, knowledgeable, and a strong advocate for their needs. Kim has volunteered to precept new nurses and educate nursing students, and has also dedicated her day off to present at one of our UH Research Fairs.

Please join us in celebrating Kim and her important role in healthcare and research. Thank you for being part of the DCRU team!💙

05/09/2025

May 6 - May 12 is National Nurses Week! To celebrate, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Kelsey Lesniak, RN, BSN, a dedicated research nurse at the UH Clinical Research Center.

Kelsey has been in healthcare for 14 years, with 7 of those years devoted to research nursing. Her role involves coordinating clinical trials, ensuring participant safety, and managing complex protocols and documentation.

For Kelsey, the most fulfilling aspect of her career is witnessing the impact of her work on patient care and treatment breakthroughs. She cherishes the close connections she forms with trial participants, supporting them through their journey. Her work with pediatric patients reveals the incredible generosity and resilience of children and their families. She shares heartwarming stories of families eager to participate in research to benefit future generations, highlighting the trust and empathy that underpin pediatric research.

Join us in celebrating Kelsey and her inspiring contributions to healthcare and research. Her dedication and compassion continue to make a profound impact on patients and the future of medicine. 💙

04/25/2025

Ohio is stronger with healthy individuals, families and communities, but poor mental and physical health are barriers to realizing their full potential for too many Ohioans. University Hospitals is seeking participants ages 14 and up, along with their family members, for a research study to help build a healthier Ohio. By participating in this research study, researchers aim to understand factors that contribute to risk and resilience, which can inform and guide new strategies for prevention, treatment, recovery and resilience. Visit https://tinyurl.com/33a8m47a to learn more about this research study.

04/21/2025

April is National Donate Life Month, which brings awareness to the importance of organ donation and serves to thank and remember those who have donated.

University Hospitals researchers have been involved in advancing the practice of organ donation and organ transplant. In 2013, Jonathan Lass, MD, William Reinhart, MD, and Beth Ann Benetz, MA, CRA, FOPS, participated in a National Eye Institute study demonstrating that donor age is not a significant factor in the success of corneal transplantation.