Center Overview

Chevy Chase Clinical Research is the dedicated research arm of Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group, the largest gastroenterology private practice in the Washington Metropolitan area. We have performed 140 phase II and III clinical trials since 1996 in all areas of Gastroenterology and selected areas of Internal Medicine. We also operate The Travel Health Service of Washington, giving travel vaccinations, and would therefor be in a position to conduct vaccine trials. Our staff consists of a medical director, seven physicians, and three research coordinators. Our goal is to conduct studies with the highest degree of adherence to Good Clinical Practice, keeping the safety and well being of our patients foremost in our minds.

We have worked with all major Pharmaceutical manufacturers as well as a large number of small and mid-size companies. We consistently fill and overfill our quotas in most studies and we pride ourselves of the quality of our work. This is achieved by the high quality of our people, the majority of whom are Certified Coordinators.

Clinical Research Experience

Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group has three offices, one located in downtown Washington, and the other two are located in the suburbs of Washington DC, within 5 miles of the city line. There are two freestanding endoscopy centers connected to two of the offices. All offices are easily accessible via public transportation, with two locations within walking distance of the metro rail. These state of the art facilities combined with our leading area gastroenterologists, offer our patients the highest quality patient care. Our research offices have ample space for CRA monitoring, and CRF and drug storage.

List of Sponsors Worked With:

List of CRO's Worked With:

Investigator Experience

Robert Hardi, M.D., CPI
Dr. Hardi graduated Summa cum Laude from Semmelweis University Medical School in Budapest, Hungary. He did his training in Internal Medicine at Semmelweis University Medical School, Hungary, Hannover University Medical School in Germany, and the University of New Mexico Medical School in Albuquerque. He also completed a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of New Mexico Medical School, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Cornell Medical College/The New York Hospital in New York, NY. Dr. Hardi is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has served on the Board of Credentials and the Judicial Council of the Medical Society for the District of Columbia. He was a board member of the District of Columbia Society of Internal Medicine, the national and local boards of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, and the Capital Physician’s Network. Dr. Hardi also serves on the faculty of The George Washington University Medical School as well as Georgetown University Medical School.

Michael J. Schwartz, M.D.
Dr. Schwartz completed his undergraduate education at Harvard College in 1973, and his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Rochester in 1977. He completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The George Washington University. Dr. Schwartz is a Diplomate of the National Board of Examiners, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the William E. Clark Society. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the George Washington University Medical School.

Michael L. Weinstein, M.D.
Dr. Weinstein completed his Doctor of Medicine Degree at Northwestern University in 1980. He also completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Washington Veterans Hospital. Dr. Weinstein is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology. He is a respected member of the American Gastroenterological Association, serving on the national Clinical Practice Committee. As a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, he represents the profession on the American Medical Association’s CPT advisory panel. Dr. Weinstein is an Associate Editor for Clinical Perspectives in Gastroenterology, and has lectured widely on managed care and Ambulatory Endoscopy Centers. He also serves on the faculty of The George Washington University Medical School.

Louis Y. Korman, M.D.
Dr. Korman completed his medical school education at the State University of New York, Syracuse graduating Cum Laude and being elected to AOA, the honor medical society. He has been a professor of Medicine and Physiology at George Washington University School of Medicine and continues to teach gastroenterology and endoscopy weekly in the Internal Medicine and gastroenterology Training Program at the VA/Georgetown Residency and Fellowship program. Dr. Korman has been past Chairman of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Medical Advisory Committee of the National Capital Chapter and past Chair of the Home Health Care Committee of the Jewish Social Services Agency. Nationally, he has been active in the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He chaired the committee responsible for use of computers in endoscopy and has recently been nominated as a Counselor of the Society.

Donald A. O’Kieffe, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G.
A graduate of Yale University, Dr. O’Kieffe has been a Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University since 1988. As of 1972 he has served as a Medical Consultant to the Department of State Medical Division and the White House. Dr. O’Kieffe carried out the first colonoscopy in the Washington area in 1972. He has served as chairman of several committees of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, has been a Board member, and is the current ASGE Delegate to the American Medical Association. He is an active member of the Procedures Review Committee of Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of the National Capital Area, and is a Fellow in the American College of Physicians and American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. O’Kieffe also serves on the faculty of The George Washington University Medical School.

Nelson P. Trujillo, M.D.
Dr. Trujillo completed his Doctor of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. His academic appointments have included The George Washington University School of Medicine, Harvard School of Medicine, and The University of Connecticut Health Center. He is Clinical Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University and serves as a Medical Consultant to the Department of State and The White House. Dr. Trujillo is a Diplomat of the American Board of Gastroenterology as well as the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology. He is an active member in the American Society of Internal Medicine, the American Gastrointestinal Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the Inter-American Society for Digestive Endoscopy, and the American Federation for Clinical Research.

Richard L. Gelfand, M.D.
Dr. Gelfand graduated from the Georgetown University Medical School as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After completing his residency at Georgetown, he continued his training at George Washington University, where he currently holds the position of Associate Clinical Professor. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Gelfand is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Lawrence W. Widerlite, M.D.
Dr. Widerlite studied medicine at State University of New York Downstate, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He did his Internship and Residency at The New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center and Georgetown University. From 1969-1971, he served in the USPHS at the National Institutes of Health, doing research in oncology and molecular pharmacology. From 1972-1974, he trained in Gastroenterology at Boston University and Peter Bent Bingham Hospital. Dr. Widerlite is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. From 1974-1977, he held an academic appointment at Georgetown University Hospital and the Washington V. A. Hospital, doing research in gastrointestinal oncology. He presently continues as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. In 1977, he joined the staff of The Washington Clinic, where he practiced until joining Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group in 2003. He has been on the Executive Committee of Sibley Memorial Hospital, and has also served as Assistant Chief of Gastroenterology at the hospital. Dr. Widerlite has published over fifteen medical articles pertaining to Gastroenterology.

Dominique E. Howard, M.D.
Dr. Dominique E. Howard completed her undergraduate education with a Bachelor of Science at Georgetown University in 1993, and her Doctor of Medicine at George Washington University in 1997. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at George Washington University Medical Center in 2000, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at George Washington University Medical Center in 2003. Dr. Howard is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. She is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association, as well as the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, and The William Earl Clark Society. She serves on the medical staffs of George Washington University Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Staff Expertise

Chevy Chase Clinical Research has a Medical Director and 6 full time employees, as well as the support services of Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group.

Robert Hardi MD, CPI, is the Medical Director, who also serves as Principal Investigator on most of CCRC's studies. Dr. Hardi has eleven years of research experience and was Principal Investigator on more than a hundred studies. He is a Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and is a Certified Clinical Trial Investigator. He is supported by twelve partners in Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group who serve as sub-Investigators.

Ellen Wani, RN, BSN, CCRC
4 years research experience and 5 years experience in clinical nursing and Endoscopy. Mrs. Wani is the Research Manager for Chevy Chase Clinical Research.
Ellen.Wani@metrogastro.com

Patient Demographics

The practice itself has a database of over 100,000 patients, and a large referral base of community physicians. The Washington Metropolitan area has a population of approximately 5 million people.

Enrollment
We have met or exceeded our enrollment goals for 95% of the studies we have conducted since 1996.

Other Information

• We use a central IRB
  
• We have experience in Remote Data Entry
  
• We have staff fluent in the following languages: Spanish, German, French, and Hungarian

Contact Information

Ellen Wani, RN, BSN, CCRC
Chevy Chase Clinical Research/Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group
5550 Friendship Blvd, Suite T-90
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
USA
Phone: 301-652-5520
Fax: 301-654-7961
EMail: Ellen.Wani@metrogastro.com

Currently Enrolling Trials

• Crohn's Disease - Working for a Better Tomorrow
• Do You Have Upper Stomach Discomfort?
• Do you suffer from Ulcerative Colitis?
• Is the Volcano Still Erupting?
• The Pain and Discomfort of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical trial there, please complete and send the E-mail form below. A representative from the research center will then follow up with you.