The past year the Department of Clinical Research at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group has completed studies involving new medicines for influenza, erosive esophagitis, psoriasis, arrhythmia, erectile dysfunction, stress incontinence, inflammatory bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in orthopedic patients undergoing knee or hip surgery, osteoarthritis, and allergic rhinitis. Such studies concern dosage, safety, and efficacy of new medication as required by the FDA.

We are now enrolling patients on a volunteer basis, in a variety of studies which include asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, deep vein thrombosis prevention, pediatric vaccines, hypertension, and diabetes.

In the field of asthma, the Clinical Research Department is currently performing studies in children to determine safety of Montelukast, a non-steroidal controller medication as measured by linear growth of the children. In addition, use of Budesonide inhalers for children with severe asthma have recently been completed. The Food and Drug Administration approved this medication for general use late this summer and the product became available this fall. Pharmacoeconomic studies of asthma therapy have also been conducted, and the results presented at scientific conferences in Chicago, Seattle, Rome, Italy and Monterrey, Mexico by Dr. Richard O'Connor, chairman of the SRSMG Department of Allergy and Immunology.

The Clinical Research Department was recently singled out for praise by the reviewers for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) Certification of the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.