Research Coordinator

Position Summary

The Research Coordinator will provide operational, regulatory, and data management support for a VA CSR&D-funded study evaluating mid-term outcomes of restrictive versus liberal postoperative transfusion strategies in high cardiac risk veterans. The coordinator will be responsible for participant follow-up, data abstraction from electronic medical records, collection of mid-term outcomes, and maintenance of a secure study database for extended (1-, 3-, and 5-year) follow-up. They may also help address additional research questions.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Participant Identification and Eligibility
Verify TOP trial participants for eligibility for extended follow‑up using protocol-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, prior to data entry.
Data Abstraction and Medical Record Review
Abstract definition-adherent clinical data from the electronic medical record (EMR), including perioperative characteristics, renal function metrics, limb status, and mortality data, in accordance with the study protocol and data dictionary.
Identify and capture relevant laboratory values, imaging reports, procedure notes, and clinic documentation needed to assess chronic kidney disease progression, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, major amputations, and survival outcomes at 1, 3, and 5 years.
Ensure data completeness and accuracy through routine data quality checks and query resolution with the investigative team.
Participant Contact and Records Retrieval
Contact participants and/or appropriate proxies to confirm vital status, health events, and care received outside the VA system, using IRB-approved communication scripts.
Obtain and process medical record release forms for non-VA care, coordinating with external institutions to secure necessary documentation.
Document all contact attempts and outcomes in tracking systems, ensuring timely and respectful communication with veterans and their families.
Data Entry and Database Management
Support development of data entry system.
Enter abstracted data into a secure, study-specific database in a timely and accurate manner, following established data standards and coding conventions.
Perform routine data validation, discrepancy checks, and reconciliation between source documents and database entries.
Assist with preparation of analytic datasets and data exports for the study statisticians.
Regulatory Compliance and Study Administration
Prepare, submit, and maintain of IRB and VA Research & Development (R&D) approvals, amendments, continuing reviews, and reportable events.
Maintain regulatory binders and essential documents in compliance with VA, institutional, and federal requirements.
Assist in developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs), manuals of procedures, and training materials related to study conduct, data abstraction, and participant follow‑up.
Coordinate study meetings, prepare agendas and minutes, and support communication among investigators, statisticians, and collaborating sites.

6. Quality Improvement and Reporting

Contribute to monitoring of study progress, including enrollment/follow-up metrics, data completeness, and timelines for 1-, 3-, and 5-year outcome capture.
Assist with preparation of interim reports, presentations, and manuscripts by providing updated datasets, tables, and descriptive summaries as requested by the principal investigator.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of clinical research principles, including randomized controlled trials, observational follow‑up, and confounding by indication, or willingness to acquire this knowledge through on‑the‑job training.
Strong skills in medical record review and clinical data abstraction, with attention to detail and adherence to protocol definitions.
Familiarity with postoperative care, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, and related terminology preferred.
Ability to work with electronic medical records and secure research databases; experience with spreadsheet and database software (e.g., Excel, REDCap, or similar) preferred.
Understanding of human subjects protections, privacy and confidentiality requirements, and regulatory processes (IRB, VA R&D).
Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and follow‑up intervals (1-, 3-, and 5-year outcomes).
Strong written and verbal communication skills for interacting with veterans, families, clinical staff, and research team members.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a health-related field (e.g., nursing, public health, biology, psychology) or equivalent experience in clinical research.
Prior experience as a research coordinator, clinical research assistant, or similar role preferred.
Experience with statistical software and biostatistics preferred
Experience working in VA or other large health system environments desirable.
Certification in clinical research (e.g., ACRP, SOCRA) is desirable but not required.

Work Conditions

Primarily office-based work within a clinical research setting, with extensive use of computers for EMR review and data entry.
Patient or family contact by phone, per protocols.
May require completion of VA-specific training and credentialing requirements.

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits: