The STARR Report: February 2020
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We recognize that mental health clinical research is a particularly challenging area within research so we’ve brought together stakeholders from pharma, CRO’s, and sites to identify some obstacles and challenges unique to CNS research.
The STARR Site Certification is a result of these conversations.
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The main reason to be STARR Certified is to be part of a network of stakeholders that are employing standardized best practices within their organizations and are advancing mental health clinical research by:
- cultivating community engagement;
- promoting research as an option for all;
- strengthening communication between research site staff and patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups;
- providing ongoing support for best practices around a few areas identified by you, the stakeholders of The STARR Coalition, as being areas that could use some support.
Everything The STARR Coalition does comes from our stakeholders looking to make positive change.
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The CDC has information specifically for healthcare facilities on their website.
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We are collecting messaging that you can modify and share with your patients and contact database via email.
You may also want to take this opportunity to offer general workshops and/or training sessions within your communities.
This is a great opportunity
to let people know that
you are committed to the health
of your community!
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COVID-19:
Communicating Information at your Site
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As healthcare facilities, you have probably already set out extra hand sanitizer and posted notices in your office about COVID-19 aka Coronavirus. If you haven't done so yet, the CDC has prepared several printable fact sheets around the Coronavirus, which are accessible
HERE
or click on the images to link to the CDC website where you can download the posters they have created.
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Otsuka and Biogen Supporting
STARR Site Certifications
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We are especially delighted to share updates on sponsors
that are supporting the STARR Site Certification.
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Since their founding in 1978, Biogen has made their mission clear: become pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen has led innovative scientific research with the goal over the last decade to defeat devastating neurological diseases. They believe that
no other disease area holds as much need or as much promise for medical breakthroughs as neuroscience
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We agree.
Your support for those living with CNS disorders matters and so does your work with The STARR Coalition.
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Otsuka’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for mental health disorders for patients and their families began more than 30 years ago.
They are not stopping now. Otsuka is dedicated to providing additional treatment options to those living with psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Thank you for your commitment to this space and for being a great friend to The STARR Coalition!
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Featured STARR Certified Sites
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Founded in 2012, by Jelena Kunovac, M.D., M.S., Altea Research Institute conducts
Phase II to IV studies, focusing on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Kunovac, along with Associate Medical Director Mustafa Rawaf, D.O.. are passionate about working in under-served communities and indigent populations in and around Las Vegas, Nevada.
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iResearch Atlanta is a multi-specialty clinical research center, located in Downtown Decatur. We offer a beautiful, comfortable environment for our study volunteers, patients and caregivers. We are dedicated to making a difference in our local and global community through the study of new medications for mental health and medical illnesses affecting our community.
"We are so honored to have piloted and now become a STARR Certified site with others across the country, helping lead the way for increased awareness of clinical research." - says Zach Mitchell, Director of Business Operations & Recruitment at iResearch.
iResearch Atlanta is particularly active with the local advocacy organizations and within their community, regularly hosting various events including movie nights, educational meetings, and participating in local mental health fairs.
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Woodland International Research -- an Evolution Research Group Site
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Woodland International Research Group has 80 years of combined research experience and over 200 years of combined clinical and psychiatric experience. The site has expanded from its initial focus in psychiatric research studies to a variety of medical studies. Woodland proudly demonstrates leadership in the medical community by offering research to rural and urban areas in Arkansas. Since opening its doors, it has become a leader in the field of clinical research, having successfully completed 90 studies and becoming the top enroller in 15 studies worldwide. This success is directly related to Investigator involvement in all trials and a dedicated research staff. The site’s investment in research subjects and the community is directly linked to the success of the processes and safety each subject receives upon participation in a clinical trial.
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Help The STARR Support Clinical Research...
One of the guiding principles of the STARR Site Certification program is to help build strong, trusting relationships between clinical research sites and the various advocacy and special-service organizations throughout their communities.
We all know that successful community engagement will raise a site’s profile within the community, while educating the public on the benefits of clinical research. Sites that are engaging with the community and building trusting relationships within local advocacy branches are likely to have better relationships with the patients, higher staff morale and job satisfaction, lower staff turn-over, and overall more successful trials.
What can The STARR provide and/or create that will help build those relationships with local advocacy?
Let us know which of the following you think would be the most effective in this effort:
- A fact sheet or infographic with data on number of patients treated in clinical research facilities;
- A short video that introduces what a clinical trial is;
- A graphic on what the different treatment routes look like - for example, if a person with schizophrenia needs help, they can either go to a hospital (what does that look like), go to an urgent care or community clinic (what does that look like), not get treated at all (what does that look like), OR they can go to a research site and be treated with respect and understanding and get a comprehensive evaluation with no strings attached.
- Visual on what a clinical trial is and who it helps (those currently living with the disease/condition AND all others now and in the future who have that disease/condition).
- Tip sheet for engaging with advocacy.
If you have another idea for something that we could create that would provide a compelling reason for advocacy organizations to team up with research sites, let us know!
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Latest STARR Coalition Podcasts
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Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman
is pioneer in suicide research. She leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s growing research grant program. Join us as we talk about suicide research and policy, how to approach someone with feeling of suicide and how we need to rethink suicidal ideation and clinical research.
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National Call-to-Action, We Need You!
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Over the last several years, we have seen an increased awareness of the importance of CNS research. Advocacy organizations are supporting cutting-edge, scientific approaches to new therapies relieving the symptoms of mental illness. We have many unique barriers in this arena. The question becomes how can we come together across industry and advocacy to find real, practical ways to promote research.
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In this spirit, The STARR Coalition is partnering with thought-leaders across the industry and advocacy to create a National Call-to-Action. We will create a campaign consisting of ten actionable items anyone can use to help bring mental health research into the same light as cancer, diabetes or heart disease. A great need had been identified for this collaboration, if you are interested in joining the workgroup, reach out to The STA
RR.
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The STARR Coalition will (hopefully) travel to the following upcoming conferences. If you plan on attending these conferences, please be sure to meet with us!
ASCP (NCDEU):
Miami, FL, May 26 - 29, 2020
CNS Summit 2020:
Boca Raton, FL, October 29 - November 1, 2020
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The STARR Coalition | phone: 501.944.8653 | fax: 501.224.1340 | www.thestarr.org
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