Veterans Affairs Medical Center Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center

The VA Cooperative Studies Program, established in 1972, is a world leader in the conduct of large-scale, multi-center clinical trials. The program has four statistical centers, three epidemiology centers and a pharmacy coordinating center geographically located across the U.S. The Yale-affiliated West Haven Center, directed by Dr. Peter Peduzzi, has a staff of more than 40 people, including biostatisticians, epidemiologists, computer programmers and data managers, and state of the art facilities consisting of high speed computer and telecommunications networks.

The Center has conducted more than 50 clinical trials since its inception and is presently coordinating ten trials in all areas of medicine, including cardiology, infectious diseases, Gulf War Illnesses, renal disease, surgery, and AIDS. Center staff members are involved in all aspects of design, data management, coordination and analysis of these trials and have a wealth of experience in this area. The West Haven Center is part of the campus of the Yale School of Medicine and has strong links to the Department of Medicine (Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and Program on Aging) and the School of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH, Division of Biostatistics). Several of the Center staff have academic appointments at Yale. The Center currently has an internship program for EPH students to gain experience in this area of research, and Center staff also teach a one-semester course at EPH on multi-center clinical trials (BIS 561a). The Center has developed a Career Development Enhancement Award designed to provide training for junior clinical investigators, and enable them to gain hands on experience in clinical trials.

Contact information--Dr. Peter Peduzzi (203) 932-5711 X3780

http://www.vacsp.gov/about.cfm