Office of Clinical Research

About Us

Navigating the study start-up process for clinical research can be challenging. The Office of Clinical Research (OCR) at MUSC partners with study teams and research-related offices across the MUSC enterprise to ensure research billing compliance and improve the financial and operational performance of clinical research.

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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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.

Collaboration Information for Clinical Research Sponsors & Contract Research Organizations (CROs) .

Industry Sponsors & CROs

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.

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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 information about the Research Community Hub.

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CTMS

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

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Finance

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

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Prospective Reimbursement

Guiding investigators to meet federal research billing compliance regulations.

ROC

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

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Training and Resources

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

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

SCTR Administrator and director of the Office of Clinical Research Royce Sampson

Royce Sampson, MSN, RN, CRA

Director, OCR;
Administrator, SCTR;
Project Director, Research Expansion
sampsonr@musc.edu

Signe Denmark, MS, CCRP

Associate Director, Research Opportunities and Collaborations (ROC) and Finance denmarks@musc.edu

Leila Forney, DNP, CCRP, CHRC.

Associate Director, Prospective Reimbursement Analysis (PRA)
forney@musc.edu

Stephanie Gentilin, MA, CCRA

Associate Director, Human Subject Regulations
mamaysl@musc.edu

Kelly Hickman

Communications, Instructional Design, and Training Program Manager
hickmank@musc.edu

Steven Shapiro, MHA, MSHI, PMP

Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS)
shapirsb@musc.edu

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

Clinical Research Tools and Platforms

Click on the links below to access frequently used pages, portals, and accounts essential for conducting quality clinical research.