The USU Clinical Pharmacology Unit (CPU)
Research on dangerous drug combinations is critical to patient safety.
The USU Clinical Pharmacology Unit (CPU) conducts clinical research that addresses important questions involving drug metabolism, toxicity and interactions. The unit has safely studied hundreds of research subjects over the past 15 years in nearly 40 clinical trials.
The CPU has the staff and technical capabilities to perform both the clinical and analytical aspects of clinical studies. They have broad expertise in Phase I trials and special expertise in human, cardiovascular safety, drug interaction and exploratory pain model studies.
The CPU has unique facilities and capabilities, including the ability to perform long-term inpatient studies and to provide continuous cardiovascular monitoring of patients during their stays. It is located on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and includes an inpatient unit with eight beds and a separate outpatient research unit.
Conducting Critical Drug Studies
Two major studies underway include single-dose and multi-dose studies with a new anti-malarial drug developed by the U.S. Army. This potential new therapeutic is intended for patients with severe malaria who need intravenous medication. The only such treatment approved for use in the U.S. today is not readily available and soon may be taken off the market due to potential cardiac side effects. Thus, the Army contracted with CPU to conduct safety studies on intravenous artesunate, a therapy that is in development for eventual submission for FDA approval.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In the last year, the CPU was awarded a grant by NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The NIH is looking to study the safety and effectiveness of several commonly used dietary supplements, and research ways to maximize potential benefits patients derive from them.
Studies conducted by the CPU are administered and supported by HJF and are funded by the NIH, DoD, FDA and private industry.