Work with us
The Clinical Investigation Center brings together expertise from across the college and University.
The 17 colleges of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus offer unique opportunities for research collaborations. Six of the 17 colleges make up the Office for Academic Clinical Affairs: School of Dentistry, Medical School, School of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, and College of Veterinary Medicine. Being under one administrative umbrella creates preeminent access to collaborators across the medical and health professions.
Offerings
The CIC provides a range of services that include client-animal and purpose-bred animal studies. See below for a full list of offerings:
- Budget assistance
- Protocol development assistance
- Full support for GCP (Good Clinical Practices) and GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) studies
- Contract submission or coordination with department
- Animal ordering, arrangements for housing and care
- IACUC protocol creation, amendments, continuing review
- Scheduling with Veterinary Medical Center, acting as liaison with multiple VMC services to get studies performed on time
- Study forms: online in REDCap, paper forms
- Trained research study certified veterinary technicians to assist in all aspects of your study:
- Recruitment/Client communications - first call for help frees investigators to respond when they need to
- Scheduling
- Anesthesia and surgery technical assistance
- Lab sample procurement and processing (PBMCs, etc)
- Preparation of study test articles
- Study promotion: website posting, targeted emails, and mailings
- Financial management of industry clinical trials — invoicing, budget tracking
Our network and resources
College of Veterinary Medicine
Within the College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborations are the “connective tissue” across our departments and centers, linking basic science with naturally occurring disease in animals.The faculty of the College is nationally and internationally recognized for teaching and research excellence. Areas of research strength include infectious disease, genomics, comparative medicine, public health, epidemiology and dairy, swine, and avian medicine. Visit the College of Veterinary Medicine website
Animal cancer care and research program
The Animal Cancer Care and Research (ACCR) program is a cornerstone of the Comparative Signature Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine and a Developmental Research Program at the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota. The ACCR conducts research in the area of Oncology where humans and animals interface and provides cutting-edge care to animals with cancer. Visit the ACCR website
Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR)
The positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is available at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) on the Minneapolis campus. The CIC transports clinical animals to the CCIR and provides anesthesia and support throughout. Visit the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR)
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute opened in April 2009 to “improve the health of our communities through collaborative clinical and translational research.” The CTSI provides comprehensive support to research teams across the University, including biostatistical consulting services, intellectual property management, and funding opportunities. Visit the CTSI website
Comparative pathology shared resource
The Comparative Pathology Shared Resource is a part of the Cancer Center and offers histology, immunohistology, and pathology on a fee-for-service basis. Contact the CIC team at [email protected] to learn more.
Flow cytometry resource
The University Flow Cytometry Resource provides services in routine and advanced tasks including immunophenotyping, reticulocyte enumeration, DNA analysis, and absolute counting. The UFCR can analyze and sort cells tagged with four different fluorochromes. Visit the Flow Cytometry Resource webpage
Molecular and cellular therapeutics facility
Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics offers state-of-the-art GMP/GTP compliant, full-service development and manufacturing of cell- and tissue-based products, monoclonal antibodies, and other therapeutic proteins—as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients—for use in Phase I, II, or III clinical trials. Visit the Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics website
Orthopedic gait lab
Clinical trials have access to a fully-equipped orthopedic gait lab, able to perform pressure platforms (force plate and TEKSCAN) and three-dimensional gait analysis. To learn more contact the CIC at [email protected]
University of Minnesota Genomics Center
The University of Minnesota Genomics Center provides genomics research services. Facilities and services include DNA sequencing and analysis, expression, genotyping, nucleic acid extraction, and related support. Visit the University of Minnesota Genomics Center website
University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center
Leatherdale combines state-of-the-art facilities with internationally recognized faculty to create a research environment unsurpassed in the state of Minnesota. Technology available includes computerized gait analysis combined with high speed cameras for lameness diagnostics, an aqua treadmill, a reproduction wing, standing MRI and CT, and a high-speed treadmill to monitor cardiac and respiratory factors in the exercising horse. Research at Leatherdale focuses on equine genetic diseases, muscle diseases, arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders, infectious and metabolic diseases, and nutrition. Visit the University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center website
Veterinary diagnostic laboratory
The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) promotes animal and human health through early detection and monitoring of animal diseases. The VDL is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians as a full service diagnostic laboratory for all animal species, and is the official laboratory of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The VDL’s services assist in official disease monitoring and control programs, including health certification for interstate and international commerce. Visit the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory website
Veterinary Medical Center
The Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) has served the state of Minnesota for more than a century. Clinical trials performed here have access to the most advanced, full-service referral care center for large and small animals in the state. The VMC, which sees more than 35,000 cases annually, has specialists available in all areas of medicine and surgery. Over 50 of the veterinarians on staff have undergone several years of additional training to become Board Certified Specialists in a particular area of veterinary medicine. Visit the Veterinary Medical Center's website
- Magnetic resonance imaging
3T (Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high-resolution imaging and contrast studies. - C-Arm fluoroscopy unit
The C-Arm fluoroscopy unit provides video images during surgery. - Endoscopy, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, ultrasound
- CT
CIC studies are able to use the Veterinary Medical Center's 64-slice Toshiba CT.
Research animal facilities
Our AAALAC accredited research animal facilities are overseen by the University of Minnesota Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which is administered by the Office of Research Subjects Protection Programs. Special care housing exists for a multitude of veterinary and biomedical applications.