Las Vegas City Wire

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) places a strong emphasis on clinical trials, Michelle Tomasino, clinical trials manager in the university's Division of Research, said.

"We've been consistently growing clinical trials and working on making them logistically feasible, ensuring our community has opportunities to be a part of advanced medicine," Tomasino said in an interview published on the university's website. "Some of the unique clinical trials currently in place include a study utilizing stem cells for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas; the Cologuard 2.0 for colorectal screening; and a study targeting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and systemic inflammation."

The research gained through clinical trials helps the university, particularly the School of Medicine, Tomasino said.

"Doctors can better understand and appreciate medical science and develop a greater ability to decipher research findings and papers," she said. "The trials support critical thinking, develop teamwork skills, and increase exposure to the best clinical minds. Exposure and experience to industry-sponsored clinical trials increase the ability for faculty and clinicians to collaboratively write their own interventional research."

Kathy Mendez and Kemi Otitujo, clinical research staff members, conduct a cursory review of potential participants before a clinical trial begins, according to the article on the website. The investigator or co-investigator then proposes the study to the potential participant, Tomasino said.

"If the participant agrees and signs [their] consent, they are screened based on the eligibility of the protocol requirements," she said. "Most often, participants are specifically told there is no direct benefit to them for participating, but there are rare moments that participants positively respond to interventional research."

Tomasino primarily works at the university's main campus.

"I find myself spending one to two days a week working directly with the research staff at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine" in addition, she said. "We manage the current clinical trial workload and analyze sponsor pipelines to increase the interventional research opportunities."