The Vanderbilt Coordinating Center (VCC) provides comprehensive, central support for a diverse platform of clinical and translational research projects. The VCC first began in 1989 under the direct leadership of Dr. Gordon Bernard. Its initial focus was on providing coordinating center support for investigator-initiated trials overseen at Vanderbilt. In 2016, with the addition of several large, innovative clinical trial grants within the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) and due to an ever-growing need to provide more specialized, flexible support to Vanderbilt investigators, a need surfaced to reinstate the VCC.
Presently, the VCC continues to provide coordinating center support for investigator-initiated trials and repositories led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center through its Multicenter Support Services (MSS) division. In addition, the VCC also has multiple teams that support local Vanderbilt screening, enrollment, and subject management within its Local Support Services (LSS) division. The VCC’s Clinical and Translational Research Navigator (CTRN) team provides initial consultation on study design, feasibility, recruitment, and start-up. The CTRN’s also provide continued insight for VCC projects throughout their full life cycle in an effort to optimize protocol execution. The VCC is also comprised of the Clinical Research Support Services (CRSS) team. CRSS serves as a liaison and partner to all Vanderbilt clinical and translational researchers.