HIV Clinical Research UnitOperated by the USF Health Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine at Hillsborough Health Department
Research That Makes A Difference
To Enroll 813.307.8015 Ext.6443 or Register for Updates
Your Subtitle text
Welcome
Opportunities for better medical treatment don’t just happen. These opportunities are created by careful clinical research
into investigational pharmaceutical therapies. At the HIV Clinical Research Unit, we create these opportunities for our patients every day. Synergistically combining our efforts with state of the art clinical facilities for HIV primary care at the Specialty Care Center (which even includes a dental care program) our patients receive the highest quality care possible.
The HIV Clinical Research Unit serves as an exceptional study and trial environment with a highly qualified staff and an excellent performance record.
For both patients and physicians, it represents an opportunity to obtain access to innovative experimental therapies before they are widely available. We are committed to delivering the best medical research to patients: it is our mission to serve and heal.
Charurut Somboonwit, MD
Director, Communicable Diseases, Hillsborough County Health Department
into investigational pharmaceutical therapies. At the HIV Clinical Research Unit, we create these opportunities for our patients every day. Synergistically combining our efforts with state of the art clinical facilities for HIV primary care at the Specialty Care Center (which even includes a dental care program) our patients receive the highest quality care possible. The HIV Clinical Research Unit serves as an exceptional study and trial environment with a highly qualified staff and an excellent performance record.
For both patients and physicians, it represents an opportunity to obtain access to innovative experimental therapies before they are widely available. We are committed to delivering the best medical research to patients: it is our mission to serve and heal.
Charurut Somboonwit, MD
Director, Communicable Diseases, Hillsborough County Health Department
About Us
The Clinical Research Unit was established in 1995 through a partnership with the University of South Florida Division of Infectious Disease and the Florida Department of Health. Housed at the Hillsborough Health Department, the Clinical Research Unit operates in conjunction with the Specialty Care Center, and conducts clinical research relevant to the HIV community which it serves. This program is designed to facilitate access of the greatest number of patients to the opportunities presented by a research program, and to provide a resource for the state of Florida in the development of state of the art treatment and diagnostics for HIV/AIDS. The Unit has conducted over 110 HIV research studies, including Phase I-IV pharmaceutical studies, investigational device and testing evaluations, epidemiologic, health serv
ices, and outcomes research.
This partnership benefits patient volunteers, the Hillsborough Health Department, and the community of Tampa Bay. Approximately 50 patients per year participate in studies, with four to eight studies active at any time. Our patients gain:
Benefiting the Citizens of Tampa Bay
Volunteer patients who receive lab monitoring and antiviral therapy in HIV-related clinical trials offset billing that would otherwise be assigned to public funding sources (Hillsborough County Health Plan, Medicaid, Medicare, indigent funds, etc.) Associating with a facility that offers state-of-the-art diagnosis and management enhances the prestige of patients receiving care in the public sector.
The Clinical Research Unit was established in 1995 through a partnership with the University of South Florida Division of Infectious Disease and the Florida Department of Health. Housed at the Hillsborough Health Department, the Clinical Research Unit operates in conjunction with the Specialty Care Center, and conducts clinical research relevant to the HIV community which it serves. This program is designed to facilitate access of the greatest number of patients to the opportunities presented by a research program, and to provide a resource for the state of Florida in the development of state of the art treatment and diagnostics for HIV/AIDS. The Unit has conducted over 110 HIV research studies, including Phase I-IV pharmaceutical studies, investigational device and testing evaluations, epidemiologic, health serv
ices, and outcomes research. This partnership benefits patient volunteers, the Hillsborough Health Department, and the community of Tampa Bay. Approximately 50 patients per year participate in studies, with four to eight studies active at any time. Our patients gain:
- Early access to new drugs and measurement/laboratory monitoring tests
- More intensive disease management
- Access to highly qualified and experienced specialists
- Our physicians dedicate time to fully educate patients on advancements in HIV care
Benefiting the Citizens of Tampa Bay
Volunteer patients who receive lab monitoring and antiviral therapy in HIV-related clinical trials offset billing that would otherwise be assigned to public funding sources (Hillsborough County Health Plan, Medicaid, Medicare, indigent funds, etc.) Associating with a facility that offers state-of-the-art diagnosis and management enhances the prestige of patients receiving care in the public sector.
Vision for the Future
The current program is a model for development of systems expandable into other areas of primary care research: evaluation of new vaccines (pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, adult zoster vaccination), new antivirals (for common illnesses such as influenza) and new diagnostic tests (for better management of HIV, molecular diagnosis of STDs).
The clinical research partnership between Hillsborough Health Department and the USF Health Division of Infectious Disease is already a success. With continued support, this effort can be expanded to provide new opportunities to even more patients, across a broader range of medical conditions common in our community.
The current program is a model for development of systems expandable into other areas of primary care research: evaluation of new vaccines (pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, adult zoster vaccination), new antivirals (for common illnesses such as influenza) and new diagnostic tests (for better management of HIV, molecular diagnosis of STDs).The clinical research partnership between Hillsborough Health Department and the USF Health Division of Infectious Disease is already a success. With continued support, this effort can be expanded to provide new opportunities to even more patients, across a broader range of medical conditions common in our community.