About the UTMB GCRC


John Sealy Hospital, 5th floor, A & B unit, route 0264, Voice: 409-772-1950 [Fax: -8097] FARU: Children's Hospital 6 South, route 0331, Voice 409-772-1600 [Fax -1620]

• Administrative

• Informatics

• Bionutrition

• Biostatistics

• Core Laboratory

• Research Subject Advocate

• Virtual Tour

• GCRC description for
inclusion in grants

• Letter of Support Template

Administrative Services

The GCRC provides facilities for seeing patients of all ages and disease categories. Inpatient admissions are available to investigators 4 nights per week, Monday through Thursday.

Investigators can admit for

patient care, research, or both
post-operative, pediatric, and general medical
Supports industry studies (Clinical Trials)

Don W. Powell, MD Program Director	Program Director (409) 772-1950 Dr. Powell, a Professor of Internal Medicine and Neuroscience and Cell Biology, was appointed Interim Program Director (PD) of the GCRC in April 2002, following the resignation of Walter J. Meyer, MD, and then as the permanent PD in 2003. Dr. Powell was recruited to UTMB in 1991 as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, a position he relinquished in 2002. Dr. Powell is an experienced physician-investigator with over 30 years of NIH funding and has published over 65 peer-reviewed papers as well as book chapters and reviews. He has edited leading medical textbooks and served as President of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). He maintains an active research program and has a long-term commitment to clinical research. Dr. Powell brings considerable administrative experience to his role as GCRC Program Director, based on his prior experience as Chair of a clinical department at UTMB and as a previous Director of a NIH-funded Digestive Diseases Center at UNC. Dr. Powell is working to identify investigator needs for modern clinical research at UTMB and to improve GCRC services to investigators.
Karl E. Anderson, MD Associate Program Director	Associate Program Director (409) 772-9092 Dr. Anderson was appointed as Associate Program Director in 1993. He has been instrumental in developing the GCRC educational program for future clinical investigators through the support of a NIH K30 grant, of which he is the PI. Using the K30 award as a base, he has developed the UTMB Clinical Research Education Office (CREO), which has created extensive clinical research educational venues, including a MS and PhD level degree Program in Clinical Science. Dr. Anderson has been at UTMB since 1987 and holds appointments as Professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine & Community Health, Internal Medicine and Pharmacology & Toxicology. He directs the Division of Human Nutrition within the Preventive Medicine & Community Health Department. As Associate Program Director, he is concerned with all aspects of GCRC administration and particularly with research subject safety, patient care and new protocol development. Dr. Anderson is an active, federally-funded clinical investigator in porphyrias and drug metabolism as influenced by diet. His publications include research articles, as well as numerous reviews and book chapters. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the porphyrias and has a particular interest in the development of new therapies.
Melinda-Sheffield Moore, Ph.D. Assistant Program Director	Dr. Melinda-Sheffield Moore, (409) 772-1950, was appointed as Assistant Program Director of the GCRC in January 2007 to oversee the Core Laboratory and associated facilities. Dr. Sheffield-Moore received her Ph.D. degree in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University in 1997. She conducted a NIH Trauma and Burns Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Surgery, Metabolism Unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she performed human clinical research studying muscle protein metabolism in trauma, burns and aging. Dr. Sheffield-Moore worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at UTMB for 5 years researching muscle protein metabolism and aging and joined the Division of Endocrinology in 2004. She is a member of UTMB’s Institutional Review Board and teaches Endocrinology and Reproduction in the School of Medicine.
Douglas Paddon-Jones, Ph.D. Director of Exercise Studies	Dr. Douglas Paddon-Jones, (409) 772-3073, was appointed as Director of Exercise Studies for the GCRC in January 2007. Dr. Paddon-Jones received his Ph.D. degree in Human Movement Studies from The University of Queensland, Australia in 1999 and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in stable isotope methodology and protein metabolism in Shriners Burns Hospital, Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch . Dr. Paddon-Jones is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences with a secondary appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology. He is a member of UTMB’s Institutional Review Board and curriculum faculty member in the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Paddon-Jones has an active research program funded by both federal and industry sources. His research program broadly focuses on inactivity-induced changes in muscle protein metabolism and includes specific projects examining muscle loss with aging and targeted nutritional strategies to prevent muscle loss in at-risk populations.
Lori Wiseman, BS Administrator	Administrator (409) 772-1953 Ms. Wiseman, joined the GCRC in December 2002. Ms. Wiseman has extensive administrative experience, having worked at UTMB since 1989 (Patient Finance, the Faculty Practice Plan, and the Office of the Dean of Medicine/Vice President for Academic Affairs). Prior to joining the GCRC team, she managed the grants and clinical trials program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for four years, which provided extensive experience in grant preparation and financial management. Ms. Wiseman holds a BS degree with high honors in Health Care Administration. Ms. Wiseman is responsible for all business activities on the GCRC and advises investigators on protocol submission and implementation. She supervises the office staff, interfaces with all directors and investigators, as well as Bionutrition and Nursing management. As an active member of the SOM Administrators and Hospital Leadership teams, she maintains liaison with other administrators in the UTMB clinical enterprise.
Liz Ruiz Administrative Coordinator	Administrative Associate (409) 772-1920 Liz Ruiz joined the GCRC in December 1999. She has extensive UTMB experience, having served 25 years in various capacities on campus. She is located in the administrative suite of the Main GCRC (J508) and serves as the point person for protocol submission and general GCRC inquiries. She meets with investigators regarding their ancillary needs and is responsible for protocol billing. She coordinates GCRC Advisory Committee meetings and maintains protocol files and IRB forms and consents. She is responsible for collecting information from investigators for NIH reporting purposes and serves as backup to the Administrator.
Cheryl Benskin Accountant II	Administrative Associate (409) 772-1617 Cheryl Benskin joined the GCRC in 2001 as a Coordinator supporting the GCRC Research Subject Advocate. In 2005, she transitioned into her current role as Administrative Associate in support of the Flight Analog Research Unit where she is now located. She provides administrative support for the satellite unit and serves as backup to the Administrative Associate on the Main GCRC Unit. In addition, Cheryl assists with financial management of GCRC funding.
Animesh Chandra, PhD Science Writer/Protocol Coordinator	Science Writer/Protocol Coordinator (409) 772-9510 Animesh Chandra is the GCRC Protocol Coordinator/Science Writer. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Lucknow University and a MFA in English from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He helps investigators with GCRC applications and pre-reviews them for completeness/congruency before applications are scheduled for review by the GAC. He keeps track of the modifications and IRB approvals of existing protocols and ensures that the modifications have GCRC approval. He communicates review sheets to the PIs after their protocol has been reviewed by the GAC, helps them address stipulations when requested, and prepares GAC minutes. Teaming up with the staff, he publishes the GCRC Newsletter.