|
VRC
Home
Clinical Studies
About Clinical Studies
MEET OUR STAFF
Margaret
M. McCluskey, RN, MPH, CCRC Manager
of Clinical Operations, Clinical Trials Core
Pamela Edmonds, RN, BSN, MSA
Research Nurse/Study Coordinator
Ingelise Gordon, RN
Research Nurse/Study Coordinator
Sarah Hubka, RN, MSN, NP
Senior Nurse Practitioner
Brenda Larkin, RN, BSN, CCRC
Nurse Manager, VRC Clinic, Clinical Trials Core
|
Laura
Novik, RN, BSN, MA
Research Nurse/Study Coordinator
Steve Rucker, RN
Research Nurse/Study Coordinator
Michael Scott, RN
Research Nurse/Study Coordinator
|
Margaret M. McCluskey
Margaret M. McCluskey, RN, MPH, CCRC is the Manager of Clinical
Operations for the VRC Clinical Trials Core. Formerly directing
the VaxGen Phase III Trial of AIDSVAX for Johns Hopkins University's
(JHU) Center for Immunization Research, she brought five years
of experience in managing HIV vaccine clinical trials to the
VRC. Most notably, Ms. McCluskey led the JHU site to reach
the highest volunteer enrollment among the 78 trial sites
in North America, The Netherlands and Thailand. Additionally,
the Washington D.C. site has an impressive 96% volunteer retention
rate in this first, Phase III study of an HIV vaccine. Ms.
McCluskey is a certified clinical research coordinator through
the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
Since 1981, Ms. McCluskey has worked with HIV
and AIDS, first in conjunction with her ICU beginnings at
Northwestern University in Chicago, then throughout her years
in oncology and hospice nursing. Ms. McCluskey was Nursing
Coordinator for The Women and Children's HIV Program at Cook
County Hospital in the early 90's before working in Rwanda
with the American Refugee Committee. Her passion has been
her humanitarian work in Central and East Africa, and then
later in Kosova with the International Rescue Committee. When
asked why she joined the VRC rather than going back to relief
work in the field, she responded: "In short, it'll have
to wait... until we have something in the way of a decent
vaccine to accompany us on the trip back.
"When I first returned from Africa, I was
focused on the notion that nothing short of even a partially
effective vaccine can begin to contain the magnitude of devastation
and suffering wrought by HIV worldwide. Considering the lives
lost to this virus, now exceeding 7,000 everyday, I can't
see categorizing this pandemic as anything less than a humanitarian
emergency. Now we have to add to our work the all-important
protection of the public from potential bio-terrorist uses
of pathogens. And so, despite being stuck this far north of
the equator, I'm happy and privileged to do the work with
the serious support of the U. S. government through the VRC.
When we accomplish our tasks, daunting as they may be, I will
be proud to have used our national resources to this end."
Pamela Edmonds
Pamela Edmonds, RN, BSN, MSA is a Clinical Research Nurse/Study
Coordinator for the VRC. Formerly a Research Nurse Case Manager
for NIAID outpatient department, she managed care of volunteers
on Phase III HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C protocols. Prior
to employment at NIH she worked on the HIV/AIDS unit in a
community based hospital providing care for patients with
AIDS-related opportunistic infections. Ms. Edmonds has a shown
evidence of her desire and ability to advance the research
that promises to slow the spread of HIV, and is pleased to
be doing so with the VRC.
Ingelise Gordon
Ingelise Gordon, RN, has joined the VRC as a Research Nurse/Study
Coordinator. Mrs. Gordon has been at the National Institutes
of Health since 1991. She has supported NIAID in many capacities
and has worked in many of their patient care units (inpatient,
outpatient and Day Hospital nursing units). As a Case Manager
for HIV protocols in two different HIV clinics within the
NIAID, Ingelise demonstrated her well-known skill in combination
with her compassionate, thorough approach to patient care.
Mrs. Gordon worked in a dual role as both the
Clinic Coordinator for NIAID's Outpatient 11 clinic, while
also serving as a Case Manager for NIAIDs HIV primary
care clinic. Mrs. Gordon had a caseload of HIV-infected, uninsured
patients who lived within 50 miles of the NIH campus, and
displayed her deep satisfaction in working with these individuals
while showing great empathy to her patients. The problems
wrought by HIV are abundantly familiar to her.
When asked why she chose to join the VRC,
Ms. Gordon stated, Something needs to be done soon to
prevent HIV altogether. Every second someone becomes infected
with HIV, and it does certainly not discriminate. I think
I am fortunate to be a part of an organization that will be
instrumental in finding effective prevention against HIV.
I want to give something to my daughter, and the other children
of the world for that matter, so that they have good things
to look forward to. I want to be able to say to my grandchildren,
Once a upon a time, a very, very long time ago, there
was a deadly disease called AIDS.
Sarah Hubka
Sarah Hubka, RN, MSN, NP is a senior nurse practitioner who
has joined the VRC from Boston. Ms. Hubka managed Phase II,
III and IV HIV clinical research trials for the Community
Research Initiative of New England, a small, non-profit research
organization. While there, she successfully facilitated the
testing a new class of investigational, injectable HIV medications
known as fusion inhibitors. For the past three years, Sarah
has worked exclusively in nursing research, and has been responsible
for all levels of conducting complex HIV clinical trials.
This focused experience is sure to enhance the work of the
Clinical Trials Core of the VRC.
Ms. Hubka has cared for long-term, infected
HIV-positive adults, and so, has seen the devastation wrought
by HIV and AIDS. Recognizing this experience as what drives
her VRC colleagues, Ms. Hubka is thrilled to be working with
a team of people who she identifies as committed toward prevention,
and ultimately, the eradication of HIV. When asked about her
decision to join the VRC, Ms. Hubka states "I feel like I
have found my niche in this phenomenally dedicated group.
I am proud to be part of an endeavor likely to provide the
world with the hope of a tangible solution to effectively
prevent HIV. I look forward to the challenges ahead of us."
Brenda Larkin
Brenda Larkin, RN, BSN, CCRC is the Nurse Manager for the
VRC Clinic on 12 West of the Clinical Center, Building 10.
Formerly, Brenda worked with the Johns Hopkins University,
Center for Immunization Research, where she coordinated Phase
I, II and III preventive HIV vaccine trials since 1997. Ms.
Larkin was instrumental in developing the infrastructure upon
which the VaxGen study of AIDSVAXÔ was conducted, receiving
accolades due to its premier enrollment and retention status
among sites worldwide.
Being on the preventive end of HIV is important
to Ms. Larkin, after years of witnessing the ravages of HIV/AIDS
while caring for adults, especially pregnant women, in an
economically depressed area 40 miles north of Boston. She
is sensitive to the plethora of issues that arise due to this
disease; this was key to her successfully assisting patients
in finding housing, transportation and food, or while giving
HIV positive results to youths in Massachusetts. Ms. Larkin
helped women through the maze of barriers that exist while
seeking testing and treatment. In her role as the MassCap
Nurse for the northeastern part of Massachusetts, she was
responsible for HIV training and education of providers in
the area. Ms. Larkin is a certified clinical research coordinator
through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.
When asked why she joined the VRC, Ms. Larkin
stated, "I am excited to be joining the Vaccine Research Center
and hopeful that, in collaboration with others, we will find
a way to stop the disproportionate destruction and unspeakable
suffering caused by HIV/AIDS."
Laura Novik
Laura Novik, RN, BSN, MA has joined the
VRC as a Research Nurse/Study Coordinator. Ms. Novik began
working as a Research Nurse at the National Institutes of
Health in 2000 at the National Cancer Institute/ National
Naval Medical Center, where she coordinated Phase II prostate
cancer vaccine trials. Prior to that, she spent 18 years in
nephrology nursing working in varying roles as a primary care
nurse, quality management coordinator, and administrator.
Beginning in the early 1980's, Ms. Novik was involved with
HIV and AIDS in the clinical setting and after experiencing
an HIV-related, personal loss, felt a growing need to contribute
in a more meaningful way.
Upon arrival to the VRC in January of 2003,
Laura stated: "I feel privileged to be a part of this amazing
group of dedicated staff and volunteers. I realize that a
great deal of time and effort is needed to produce a serious
vaccine, but I am confident that it will happen, and that
it will happen here." Ms. Novik's clinical trials management
experience enhances the skills of the VRC Clinical Trials Core.
Steve Rucker
Steve Rucker, RN is a Research Nurse/Study Coordinator. Steve
has a rich variety of experience in nursing and clinical trials,
principally in HIV. Prior to joining the VRC, he was at the
National Cancer Institute coordinating a variety of Phase
I and II, therapeutic cancer vaccine trials for prostate,
colon, ovarian and breast cancer. Beginning in 1998, Mr. Rucker
coordinated a variety of HIV clinical trials, working on many
of the drugs that are now standard treatments for HIV/AIDS.
Steve's initial experience in HIV research was at the Whitman
Walker Clinic, the renowned, community clinic in Washington,
DC. He then moved to Dupont Circle Medical Group. Steve adds
a special set of strengths from his experience as a consultant
on VaxGen's Phase III Trial of AIDSVAX® for the Johns
Hopkins University's (JHU) Center for Immunization Research.
Steve brings to the VRC a passionate dedication
to reduce the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. Both in his
work, and in his personal life, he has seen the ravages of
the disease, contributing to a desire to be part of the solution.
"I had temporarily left HIV work partly because I knew
the drugs, while miraculous to so many people, would never
be fully available to all people with the infection. The effort
to develop a vaccine is really where my heart lies, because
it has the potential to dramatically reduce the suffering
worldwide."
Michael Scott
Michael Scott, RN joins the VRC as a Research Nurse/Study
Coordinator. Michael most recently was a Research Nurse at
the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
There, he coordinated trials for the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials
Group. He led two-phase III treatment protocols for Hepatitis
C in subjects co-infected with HIV. Michael enjoyed an outstanding
reputation for over-enrolling these protocols. He also coordinated
a large phase III protease-inhibitor sparing treatment trial
for HIV treatment naïve individuals. Additionally, he
coordinated adjunct studies involving SPECT scans, longitudinal
observational study, and a neurological assessment study.
Prior to his tenure in research, Michael worked
within the Parkland Health and Hospital System's HIV/AIDS
outpatient clinic. His responsibilities included triage, assessment,
discharge, medication education and administration, infusion
therapy, transfusions, and as a sensitive and effective advocate.
Michael muses, "I have often wondered
where I would be when they announce the end of HIV. I am honored
and humbled to have the opportunity to work for the day when
HIV will be no more than a bad memory because of an effective vaccine."
|