Mobile Unit Clinical Research Coordinator-FL

Job Description:

The Mobile Unit Clinical Research Coordinator will support prescreening efforts and provide education, access, and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease trials, particularly in areas with significant African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino populations. They will broaden the reach and capacity of local research sites and will allow for the ability to prescreen “on-location” at community outreach events, health fairs, neighborhood senior centers, etc.

Responsibilities and Primary Objectives:

This position will be responsible for transporting a 28’ Class C RV Platform Base vehicle to areas with significant African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino populations to provide education, access, and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease trials and coordinate and implement assigned prescreening assessments and protocols.

Essential functions as a part of the Diversity and Inclusion team include:

•              Responsible for collaborating with assigned research sites in the GAP-Network geographic region(s) and GAP’s Community Connectors to create and implement strategies and tactics for recruiting and prescreening people from underrepresented populations beyond the local research facility.

•              Build relationships and work collaboratively with organizations and businesses that serve people from traditionally understudied communities to provide education, awareness, and access to Alzheimer’s clinical trials.

•              Recruits and screens potential research volunteers by hosting community education events or community memory screening events, including presenting healthcare information to large groups of people;

•              Registers participants for prescreener, provides information and collects informed consent and medical history, Maintains required protocol documentation and performs tasks required by protocol, including obtaining medical history, systems review, phlebotomy, collection of vital signs and cognitive assessments.

•              Ensures uniform implementation of protocols by completing required documentation in a consistent, accurate and timely manner.

•              Assures optimal performance of all quality control procedures.

•              Prepares appropriate IRB forms, informed consents, correspondence with sponsor, etc., in an accurate and timely manner.

•              Prepares phlebotomy kits. Collects and processes blood specimens; verifies the identity of the participant and labels all samples and requisitions according to the established procedure; obtains blood specimens by skin puncture or venipuncture using appropriate techniques and maintains integrity of specimens in relation to the test performed. Recognizes abnormal or unusual circumstances and takes appropriate actions.

•              Conducts community outreach (which may include public speaking) in order to educate the public on memory loss and the importance of participating in clinical research and local opportunities for Alzheimer’s trials.

•              Completes training in utilizing and driving the mobile unit and is willing to drive the mobile unit long distances. Monitors supplies (medical, educational, and office) and ensures resources are stocked to operate at full capacity at all times.  Maintains a clean and sterile environment inside the mobile unit or other venue as appropriate.

•              Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Education and Experience

Medical assistant/LPN/general -

•              National phlebotomy certification through an approved certifying body, or willingness to earn certification

•              A bachelor’s degree preferred and/or minimum of 2 years research experience, or 2 years experience as EMT/paramedic

•              Proven record of successful problem-solving and decision framing skills

•              Organize and conduct large community outreach events, including identifying community partnerships and opportunities, setting up of vendor tables and tents at events, public speaking, and working in community-based settings

•              Ability to work independently and remotely

•              Capacity to travel overnight regionally within Florida,up to 75% time each month, sometimes on short notice

•              Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Communication Skills Preferred

•    Bilingual, English and Spanish-speaking

Technical Skills Required

•    Microsoft Office including Microsoft Word and Excel

•    Data entry in EDC systems

·              Ability and willingness to drive a 28’ Class C RV Platform Base vehicle

Mission of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation:

The Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) is a person centered non-profit organization dedicated to speeding the delivery of innovative therapies to those in need by reducing the time and cost of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorder’s clinical trials.

About the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation:

In 2017, the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) established GAP-Net, a growing network of >90 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD) research centers committed to disrupting recruitment and study conduct processes to increase the speed and lower the cost of completing clinical trials. GAP supports GAP-Net research centers by assisting with study start up and recruitment activities, promoting inclusive research, and offering national programs that champion brain health and the citizen scientists who make research possible.

One of GAP’s strategic priorities is to substantially increase enrollment of understudied populations to levels of 10-25% in Alzheimer’s trials. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is twice as high in the African American/Black population and 1.5 times higher in the Hispanic/Latino population when compared to the white/Caucasian community. Awareness, knowledge, and access to appropriate trials are essential, intersecting factors that influence participation and successful representation of a diverse candidate pool in a clinical trial. The number of underrepresented participants in AD studies must increase to ensure future treatments benefit patients of all races and ethnicities and to meet the growing expectations of regulators and payors.

In 2022, GAP launched its Inclusive Research Initiative (IRI) program that includes a 3-pronged approach focused on increasing awareness, education and clinical trial access for understudied populations. The deployment of Mobile Units is a key component for engaging new potential research participants by traveling to communities that are traditionally comprised of underserved and understudied populations and are a significant driving distance from Alzheimer’s disease research sites.