Have you been recently hired as a clinical research staff member?
Each member of the Northwestern Medicine community is dedicated to furthering our mission of research excellence and improving human health. In your role as a clinical research staff member, you are a frontline ambassador for clinical research to the public, and research simply would not be possible without your essential contributions to study implementation, participant experience, and research integrity.
Prior to First Day (when requested and possible)
- Discuss with your hiring manager or supervisor if your role will require access to Northwestern Medicine locations or systems (NM locations). If so, you will be required to go through the NMHC Access Program.
- View Northwestern University campus maps
- Each department, division, or center has a liaison assigned to assist with the Access Program process. To learn who your NMHC Access Program Liaison is, please email Toddie Hays.
- Individuals requiring access to NM locations or systems must clear NM Corporate Health. Questions regarding NM Corporate Health requirements and applicable testing forms can be directed to your unit’s NMHC Access Program Liaison.
- Collect relevant past immunization records, if available, to bring them to NM Corporate Health appointments, if deemed appropriate by your unit.
Checklist
- Review the Office for Research training checklist.
NMHC Access Program
- Meet with your unit’s NMHC Access Program liaison and complete all required paperwork for NM Corporate Health requirements. Your NMHC Access Program liaison can obtain many of the forms and resources needed on the NMHC Access SharePoint Resource Page. Below is a sample of recommended access resources to review with your unit’s liaison as determined for your specific research role. Questions regarding the NMHC Access Program can be emailed to accesspr@nm.org.
- Update your resume with current position listed
- Documentation of immunizations may be needed
- Identify NM applications you will utilize for assigned studies (if applicable) — determination can occur after NM credentials are issued
- Identify NM shared drive locations you will need access to (if applicable)
- Determine if Level 1, 2 or 3 NMHC Access is required for your determined role
NMHC Level One Access Options
- NM ID #: used to access NMHC intranet, Northwestern Medicine Interactive (NMI)
- NM.org email address
- NMHC shared drive folders or documents
- NMHC ID badge
- Remote systems access
- NOTE: NU and NM network access provides access to NMHC systems. Remote systems access only needs to be requested if user intends to access NMHC systems while not on an NU or NM network.
NMHC Level Two Access Options
- NM ID #: used to access NMHC intranet, Northwestern Medicine Interactive (NMI)
- NM.org email address
- NMHC shared drive folders or documents (optional)
- NMHC ID badge (optional)
- Remote systems access
- Clinical Systems access — includes EPIC
NMHC Level 3 Access Options
- NM ID #: used to access NMHC intranet, Northwestern Medicine Interactive (NMI)
- NM.org email address
- NMHC shared drive folders or documents
- NMHC ID badge
- Clinical Privileges
- Remote systems access
- Clinical Systems access- includes EPIC
- Clinical Privileges — For Staff expected to perform clinical tasks (Level 3 Access):
- Attend NM Clinical Skill Training for your specific research role. Validated skill training is available for ECG, vital signs, venipuncture/specimen handling, and anthropometrics (body measurement). Class registration is available through your NMHC Access Program Liaison
- Attend CPR Training for your specific research role. Validated Basic Life Support (BLS) training is available through the American Red Cross via NUCATS. Class registration is available through your NMHC Access Program Liaison
CITI Training
- Complete required CITI training modules (can be done as soon as NetId issued). Log in through "Organization” and select "Northwestern University." Modules include:
- Biomedical Research
- Good Clinical Practices (GCP)
- HIPAA, Security and Privacy
- Health Privacy Issues for Researchers (if applicable)
Additional Information and Resources
- Review the Northwestern University IRB Study Support Resources and Templates: This page provides further information on study specific Enrollment, Delegation of Authority, Consent Process, Participant Eligibility and Documentation, Drug or Device, Regulatory Binder/Record, Protocol Adherence and Recruitment.
- Register with the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (IRB) — need VPN connection to connect off campus
- Study Tracker Access is provided after approval in the eIRB+ for the specific study you will be working on (please visit the Study Tracker Information page)
- Clinical Research Workforce Excellence (CReWE) Program
- Join the Clinical Research Staff listserv by emailing listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu with the subject, "Request to join Clinical Research Staff listserv"
- Complete the online CReWE staff module focused on the Northwestern University research environment
- Register for one (or more) of the monthly professional development workshops (required to attend one per fiscal year). View the Workshop Catalog
- View previously recorded CReWE Presentations
- Informed Consent: Not Just a One Time Discussion, presented by Marcella Oliver
- Nuts and Bolts of Clinical Research, presented by Ravi Kalhan
- Regulatory Binders, presented by Payal Tiwari and Angela Baumgartner
- FDA Preparedness and Survival Guide, presented by Garett Griffith
- COVID-19: The Pandemic that Impacted Every Aspect of our Lives, presented by Dr. Michael Ison
- Local Single IRB Requirements and Processes (All Your Questions Answered), presented by Marcella Cooks
- Research Integrity and Misconduct: Protecting Clinical Research, presented by Lauran Qualkenbush
Personnel Meetings
- Meet with your manager, PI, and/or clinical research staff colleague within your unit to:
- Confirm which studies you will support and verify that you have been added to IRB-approved Authorized Personnel List
- Arrange individual training with study sponsors, when required
- Confirm tasks that you are delegated to on each assigned study
Additional Recommendations for Your Research Role (optional and as applicable)
- Attend CRC Basic Training
- View previously recorded CReWE professional development workshops
- Register for Shipment Training for Hazardous and Biological Materials through the Office for Research Safety
- Complete Responsible Conduct of Research training
- Attend an Office for Research "Intro to Research Administration at Northwestern" session
- Professional Skill Development (NetID required to access)
- These collection of tips and strategies from several different industries was curated for staff members at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Each LinkedIn Learning video is less than five minutes and link to a more comprehensive library of videos on the topic.