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Office of Clinical Research

About Us

Driving excellence in MUSC clinical research enterprise-wide through mandated compliance oversight for research billing and ClinicalTrials.gov and enterprise systems like OnCore/eReg, alongside comprehensive expertise for clinical trials budget development and negotiations, sponsor invoicing, patient remuneration, training, metric tracking, and networking through the Research Community Hub (RCH).

Our Mission

The OCR serves as a hub for the MUSC research community, offering resources, systems, services, and training from our core teams.

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Research Community Hub

The Office of Clinical Research is excited to introduce the Research Community Hub (RCH) a professional networking group specifically for MUSC research coordinators, grants administrators, and other clinical research staff.

This community provides a supportive space for accessing timely resources, asking general questions, and collaborating to foster connections, as well as a culture of research excellence across MUSC.

Sign Up for the RCH

Our Teams and Services

Experience seamless research support with our dedicated teams. From mandatory compliance to optional fee-based services, we offer a range of support to meet your needs. Click the links below to explore. Login credentials are required.

ClinCard

A reloadable debit card used to streamline participant remuneration in real time.

ClinicalTrials.gov

Collaborates with study teams to ensure compliance with federal registration, record maintenance, and results-reporting requirements.

Communications and Events

Subscribe and submit content to the OCR Collective newsletter featuring research news, resources, and more. Find out about the Research Community Hub.

Clinical Trial Management System

Streamlined protocol management, visit tracking and financial administration system support for OnCore and eReg.

Finance

Experienced experts offering budgeting, negotiations, and sponsor invoicing services.

Prospective Reimbursement

Guiding investigators to meet federal research billing compliance regulations.

Research Opportunities & Collaborations

Disseminates new study opportunities, offers feasibility and pre-site visit assistance.

Training and Resources

Training, resources, links, and tools tailored for clinical researchers and staff.

What We Do

  • New Study Opportunities: We disseminate new study opportunities to keep our research community informed.
  • Study Feasibility Support: We offer feasibility support and pre-site visit assistance to ensure successful study initiation.
  • Compliance Guidance: Our team guides investigators to meet federal research billing compliance regulations with comprehensive protocol reviews and Coverage Analysis (CA) development.
  • Budgeting and Negotiations: We reduce study staff burden by leveraging our experienced corporate clinical research budgeting and negotiations fee-for-service team.
  • Revenue Collection: We maximize revenue collection with centralized fee-for-service invoicing expertise for corporate clinical research.
  • Financial Management: We streamline financial management and study tracking with the institutionally mandated OnCore Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS).
  • Patient Payments: We offer a secure way to disburse payments to research patients in real-time with ClinCard reloadable debit cards.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov Compliance: We collaborate with study teams to ensure compliance with federal registration, record maintenance, and results-reporting requirements.
  • Research Professional Networking Group: We created the Research Community Hub (RCH) to provide a supportive space for MUSC research staff to share information, ask questions, and foster connections with other research professionals to enhance research excellence across our institution.

What Others Are Saying

"The OCR is very knowledgeable about billing/coding which has been very helpful in negotiating budgets with sponsors."
– Debi Everidge, Cardiology

"Ortho has been so lucky to have had nothing but exceptional service from the budget negotiation, sponsor invoicing, and ROC teams. We know that when a study is handled by OCR we are in the best hands. Everyone who I have personally worked with has been extremely communicative, helpful, and timely. It's truly a pleasure!"
– Alexandra Patton, Orthopaedics

“The OCR has helped me learn more about the research enterprise. They are always super kind and patient with me.”
– Elizabeth Chapman, Psychiatry- Pickens

“The OCR has been so helpful, and everyone is always willing to answer any questions we have with our clinical trials.”
– DeDe Anderson, Orangeburg

"The OCR has always been helpful in assisting me when I have questions about ClinicalTrials.gov, or can't figure something out that is needed for OnCore."
–Haley Nitchie, Anesthesia

"ClinCard has made life much easier."
–Lisa Nunn, Psychiatry

"The OCR group is awesome! I closely lean on them for budgeting and invoicing and always have a positive experience. They are not only knowledgeable and efficient but also consistently timely and helpful. Thanks for all that you do!"
– Natalie Naylon, Research Coordination and Management (RCM)

Meet Our OCR Leadership

Royce Sampson, MSN, RN, CRA

Director, Office of Clinical Research;
Administrator, South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR);
Project Director, Research Expansion
mail sampsonr@musc.edu call 1-843-693-1596 View Faculty Profile open_in_new

Signe Denmark, MS, CCRP

Associate Director, Research Opportunities & Collaborations (ROC) and Finance, Office of Clinical Research (OCR) / South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute (SCTR)
mail denmarks@musc.edu call 1-843-792-4146

Leila Forney, DNP, CCRP, CHRC

Associate Director, Prospective Reimbursement Analysis (PRA), Office of Clinical Research
mail forney@musc.edu call 1 843-792-9855

Stephanie Gentilin, MA, CCRP

SUCCESS Center Program Director, SCTR;
Associate Director, Human Subject Regulations, Office of Clinical Research
mail mamaysl@musc.edu call 843-792-9672

Kelly Hickman, BA

Associate Director, Communication & Development, Office of Clinical Research
mail hickmank@musc.edu call 1-843-792-1497

Steven Shapiro, MHA, MSHI, PMP

Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS), Office of Clinical Research
mail shapirsb@musc.edu call 1-843-792-6908

Research Tools & Platforms

ACRP

Industry recognized, self-paced training that advances professional development and strengthens research workforce competency in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ethics, and core clinical research skills. (Login required)

CITI

Required Human Subjects Protection and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training with role specific tracks that support ethical and compliant research conduct. (Login required)

ClinicalTrials.gov PRS

NIH public registry and results database that supports transparent study disclosure and compliance with registration and results reporting requirements. (Login required)

eReg

A 21 CFR Part 11 compliant eRegulatory system that centralizes essential documents, delegation of authority, and staff credentials while enabling electronic signatures for inspection ready records. (Login required)

OnCore

MUSC Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS) that unifies protocol, participant, and financial operations with Epic integration to strengthen billing compliance and operational oversight. (Login required)

REDCap

A secure and flexible platform for building research databases and surveys with audit trails, rapid project setup, and local expert consultation. (Login required)

SCResearch.org

A statewide clinical research directory connecting South Carolina residents with active studies and increasing visibility for research opportunities.

SCTR

A statewide NIH funded Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hub that provides expertise, training, resources, and infrastructure to accelerate clinical and translational science.

SMART IRB

A national master reliance agreement and platform that streamlines single IRB reliance for multisite studies and reduces start‑up timelines. (Login required)

MUSC Health/RHN Research

Investigators can expand their research reach with the support of the MUSC Health/Regional Health Network (RHN) centers located in Columbia, Florence, Lancaster, and the regional medical center in Orangeburg. Visit the MUSC Health/RHN website to learn more about these centers' patient populations, specialty areas, resources, and services.

Learn More (login required)

Contact

Office of Clinical Research

125 Doughty Street
Suite 140
Charleston, SC 29403

843-792-7900
musc-ocr@musc.edu