This core group promotes and supports efficient, safe and high-quality investigator-initiated clinical trials. Teams at two locations – one on the USC Health Sciences Campus and the other at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – assist research teams with protocol development, activation, conduct and close-out, leveraging extensive resources within the SC CTSI and across USC, CHLA, and our clinical and community partners.

SC CTSI Clinical Research Support at USC

The SC CTSI offers the following types of clinical research assistance at USC:

  • USC Clinical Research Support (CRS): The Clinical Research Support group provides services such as Research Navigation; Clinical Research Coordinator Pool; Study Participant Recruitment Support; Regulatory Support (IND/IDE application assistance); Budget Development Support.
  • CRS also administers a voucher funding program with a rolling deadline that provides awards up to $3,000 to support clinical and/or community research projects. Applicants can propose to add new data to an existing ("parent") clinical or community project to develop new research that is distinct from the aims of the parent project; or to collect information de novo to support development of new clinical and/or community research. For full eligibility requirements and to access the application form, click here.
  • For investigators and study teams that are interested in conducting multicenter human studies at USC or CHLA, our institution participates in the Trial Innovation Network (TIN). TIN is a collaborative network from NIH NCATS designed to streamline the conduct of multicenter studies by leveraging the expertise and resources of the CTSA Consortium.
  • USC Clinical Trials Unit (CTU): The CTU provides a broad range of services to assist in the initiation and conduct of human studies. These services support the conduct of study visits ranging from low to high complexity (specializing in medium to high complexity).
  • The CTU at USC provides a well-equipped physical space, highly qualified and well-trained clinical research staff including a nurse practitioner, skilled research nurses, lab technicians, and research phlebotomists; a research laboratory, and the CTU Specimen Processing Center. The resources are well-suited for early-phase clinical trials drug development studies that require serial blood draws for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments and for mechanistic studies that may require a multidisciplinary approach and multiple evaluations of physiologic and hormonal changes. Intensive monitoring for patient safety can be provided as required by the specific clinical trial. The CTU is dedicated to providing excellence in clinical research conduct, compliance with all relevant regulations, and the highest degree of patient safety.
  • Biostatistics: Through training and direct consultation, this group provides high quality, easy-to-access biostatistics service and guidance to investigator-initiated clinical studies and trials from concept to close-out.

SC CTSI Clinical Research Support at CHLA

Currently available resources at the CHLA location include: Research Recruitment; Research Navigation; Clinical Research Coordinator Pool; Regulatory and IRB Support; Clinical Trials Units; Research Nurses; Research Education. Please visit the CHLA site for more info.

Click here for a listing of our current and future initiatives:


Team Members

Encarnita Aranda Encarnita Aranda, RN, MBA Sr. Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Encarnita Aranda, RN, MBA
George Aurea George Aurea DEXA Project Specialist, Clinical Trials Unit Details about George Aurea
Lilit Baronikian Lilit Baronikian, BS Research Lab Supervisor, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Lilit Baronikian, BS
Johanna Cajabon Johanna Carrera Cajabon, BA Clinical Research Coordinator I Details about Johanna Carrera Cajabon, BA
Denise De Los Santos Denise De Los Santos, BA Patient Recruitment and Navigation Specialist Details about Denise De Los Santos, BA
Sherette Flowers Sherette Flowers, RN, NP, MSN Research Nurse, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Sherette Flowers, RN, NP, MSN
Yolanda Gutierrez Yolanda Gutierrez, CCRC, BS Assistant Director for Clinical Research Operations Details about Yolanda Gutierrez, CCRC, BS
Melissa Lee Melissa Lee, MSN Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Melissa Lee, MSN
Ruzanna Margaryan Ruzanna Margaryan, RN Protocol Coordinator, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Ruzanna Margaryan, RN
Fathia Mohamud Fathia Mohamud, BA Senior Clinical Lab Technician, Clinical Trials Unit Details about Fathia Mohamud, BA
Ari Padilla Ari Padilla, MBA Program Manager, Clinical Research Support Details about Ari Padilla, MBA
Joanne Pak Joanne Pak, BS Budget and Coverage Analyst, Clinical Research Support Details about Joanne Pak, BS
Jennifer Rivera Jennifer Rivera COVID Special Projects Coordinator, Clinical Research Support Details about Jennifer Rivera
Kim Sysawang Kim Sysawang Clinical Research Coordinator II Details about Kim Sysawang

Core Groups

Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design logo Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Details about Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design
Central Administration logo Central Administration Details about Central Administration
Clinical Research Informatics logo Clinical Research Informatics Details about Clinical Research Informatics
Clinical Research Support logo Clinical Research Support Details about Clinical Research Support
Community Engagement logo Community Engagement Details about Community Engagement
Evaluation & Improvement logo Evaluation & Improvement Details about Evaluation & Improvement
Healthcare Delivery Science Healthcare Delivery Science Details about Healthcare Delivery Science
Regulatory Knowledge & Support logo Regulatory Knowledge & Support Details about Regulatory Knowledge & Support
Research Development logo Research Development Details about Research Development
Workforce Development logo Workforce Development Details about Workforce Development

NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.