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The Translational Science & Health Services Unit (formerly the Office of Clinical & Translational Research) supports the translational and correlative research efforts of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators by providing infrastructure, services and training to enable a broad range of local and multi-site research initiatives. The TSHS specializes in the management of tissue and blood-based research with the goal of developing a better understanding of cancer and how to improve the lives of those living with it.

Contact

Translational Science & Health Services
130 Mason Farm Road
Bioinformatics Building, Suite 5115
Chapel Hill NC 27599

octr@med.unc.edu

Mission

The TSHS Mission was created as a collaborative effort by the director and the staff as a way to effectively convey the aims and goals of the TSHS.

Our mission is to advance innovative cancer research by collaborating with UNC Lineberger investigators to collectively create knowledge that will improve the lives of patients through the conduct of dedicated and compassionate clinical and translational research.

Core Values

  • Excellence through teamwork: Recognizing the inherent strength and value of every team member, the TSHS relentlessly pursues excellence in providing knowledgeable, accurate, versatile, and collaborative efforts to further the advancement of bench to bedside research across all disciplines of oncology.
  • Compassion and respect: We value a culture of compassion and respect for our patients, research participants, and for one another.
  • Integrity: Adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and personal responsibility, worthy of the trust our patients and sponsors place in us.
  • Patient centered: Place patient care at the forefront of our research, prioritizing patient needs and improved quality of life.
  • Accuracy: We routinely assess written documentation and policies, eliminating inconsistencies in order to ensure strict adherence to regulatory standards.

Services Offered by the TSHS

  • Comprehensive study management of non-therapeutic, correlative trials
  • Recruitment support including screening, consenting, blood and tissue collection, administration of study questionnaires, follow-up and tracking
  • Data management and database administration
  • Study monitoring and quality assurance
  • IRB and PRC submissions and modifications
  • Grant writing and progress reporting
  • Biospecimen management and tracking
  • Honest broker services for data sharing
  • Collaborations with treatment trials for correlative science management
  • Clinical research personnel management
  • Protocol development guidance
  • Student mentoring

Recent TSHS Faculty Publications

On PubMed

Funding Sources

The TSHS is funded by various sources, both internal and external to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill including:

UNC Lineberger logo.

The UNC Lineberger Developmental Funding Program is intended to support the development of cancer research programs led by faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and to stimulate new applications for extramural funding.


University Cancer Research Fund logo.

The University Cancer Research Fund (UCRF) is a nation-leading investment to stimulate cancer research and reduce North Carolina’s leading cause of death. The Fund builds upon the exceptional research base at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the state’s only public, NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.


Kay Yow Cancer Fund logo.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization’s namesake Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach. With the creation of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, Coach Yow hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research conducted by the nation’s top doctors and medical experts to allow more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs. Since the majority of research projects are privately funded, these researchers desperately need support in order to continue to make strides in finding a cure for cancer.


Breast Cancer Research Foundation logo.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is a nonprofit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer. The BCRF provides critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.


Susan G. Komen logo.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, Susan G. Komen is able to fund lifesaving research in all areas of breast cancer, from basic biology to prevention, to treatment, to survivorship. This scientific research will address some of the most pressing issues in breast cancer including: identification and improvement of methods of early detection, development of new approaches to prevention, and CREATION of personalized treatments based on breast cancer subtypes and the genetic make-up of a tumor


Merck logo.

Merck spends billions of dollars each year to identify and develop medicines and vaccines that can help people around the world. Thanks to the talent and tenacity of Merck-funded research – combined with the scientific and technological advances of the past decade – this is an exciting period of discovery at Merck as research continue to seek new and innovative ways to improve health.