CRISP

If you're interested in applying for CRISP, please contact crisp@ohsu.edu

This volunteer research program, established originally in 2004, was temporarily suspended in 2020 from in-person operations, and re-launched in January 2023.

We are excited to get ramped up and have our CRISP volunteers back on campus.

Mission Statement

The mission of CRISP is to foster an environment for faculty, residents, and students who are conducting clinical research and simultaneously expose vetted pre-health students to the world of clinical research. In addition, we seek to provide our CRISP Research Assistants with an opportunity to observe patient care in an urban academic emergency department as well provide career counseling and support as required for the career that they anticipate.

Introduction

As a part of the Center for Policy and Research in Emergency Medicine (CPR-EM), the Clinical Research Investigative Studies Program (CRISP) represents the research arm of the OHSU Department of Emergency Medicine. Under the leadership and guidance of the CRISP Medical Director and CRISP Program Director the program operates 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are between 5 and 10 active research studies at any one time, and many of these are extramurally funded, multicenter studies. The beauty of this program is that it provides an opportunity for pre-health students with a serious interest in health career to work in a busy academic emergency department, interact with patients, and gain clinical knowledge. In addition to the clinical side of things, the CRISP Research Assistants also learn the basics of clinical research and have the opportunity to contribute to national library for clinical research. The CRISP Research Assistants undergo hours of training in clinical research before they are allowed to work on a shift. Once trained, the CRISP Research Assistants work closely with OHSU Emergency Department physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff to screen for eligible patients, obtain informed consent, and collect quality data. Overall, the CRISP Program represents that largest volunteer research program on OHSU campus staffed approximately with 50+ pre-health students.