News Releases

University of Maryland School of Nursing Receives HRSA Grant for Clinical Research Management Master's Program

November 5, 2005

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing recently received a three-year, $717,881 training grant, "The Clinical Research Nurse Management Program," from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The grant will facilitate the career advancement, retention and educational component of a master's program in clinical research management at the School of Nursing. The program, the first of its kind in the state of Maryland, addresses the increasing demand for clinical research nurse managers to provide advanced leadership to the conduct of clinical trials.

More than 300 biotech drug products and vaccines are currently in clinical trials, targeting more than 200 diseases, including various cancers, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and arthritis. Today's forces for change include innovations in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, new discoveries in genomic research, demands for easily accessible cost 
effective quality care, escalating health care needs of the uninsured population, and 
improving access to a diverse and culturally competent health professions workforce.

“Graduates of the program will acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities for assuming new or expanded roles and responsibilities within a variety of clinical research settings that also serve high risk and medically underserved patient populations,” says Heidi Ehrenberger, PhD, RN, AOCN, assistant professor and principal investigator on the grant.

The ability to conduct clinical research, critical to improving human health, has become increasingly difficult. The increasing size, scope and complexity of clinical trials require nurses with expertise in the ethical, legal, regulatory, financial and clinical aspects of patient-oriented research.

“Our mission is to prepare nursing leaders to shape and influence the profession and the health care environment. We have a wonderful opportunity to provide a degree-granting program, promote career development, and enhance the retention of nurses in this emerging specialty of research nursing,” says Ehrenberger.

To learn more about the Clinical Research Management program, call 410-706-0501, or visitwww.nursing.umaryland.edu.