Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit

Overview

The Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit (ID CRU) was founded in the fall of 2020 to facilitate cutting-edge clinical research within the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The goals of the ID CRU are (1) to support investigators in the coordination and conduct of clinical trials within scientifically relevant areas of infectious diseases and (2) to provide training to infectious diseases fellows and faculty in clinical trials methodology, implementation, analysis, and interpretation.

Being embedded within the ID division at MGH, the ID CRU is uniquely positioned to take advantage of a wealth of clinical expertise and access to diverse patient populations. Indeed, the MGH Division of Infectious Diseases is the largest ID division in Massachusetts and ranks among the largest ID divisions in the US. The division currently has ~90 faculty and associated faculty members who, in addition to providing clinical care, conduct cutting-edge research. Members of the ID division have close to 50,000 patient contacts per year, including inpatient and outpatient consultations and follow-up visits.

The outpatient clinic typically includes a busy Travel Advice and Immunization Clinic with over 10,000 administered vaccines per year. There are also over 3,000 visits per year to the MGH Sexual Health Clinic. The MGH ID Associates practice provides care for ~1,400 people living with HIV. The division’s research spans preventive immunization strategies against viral infections and gastrointestinal pathogens, bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents, novel classes of antimicrobial agents, and infections related to transplantation and other immunocompromising disorders, to mention only a few areas of investigational interest.

Research Projects

Clostridium difficile infection studies

Enrollment Status: Open
Summary: The ID CRU currently facilitates two industry-sponsored studies involving therapeutics for primary and recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.
Contact: idcru@mgh.harvard.edu

A multi-center assessment of an intervention to provide long-acting cabotegravir injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis to people who inject drugs (ASCEND)

Enrollment Status: Open
Summary: The goal of the ASCEND study is to determine the feasibility and impact of delivering long-acting injectable cabotegravir HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and a suite of support services to adults who inject non-prescription drugs who are at risk for HIV through known sexual risk.
Contact: ascend@mgb.org

Fungal and mold infection studies

Study of EL219 vs Standard of Care for Early Antifungal Therapy of Suspected Invasive Mould Infections for Early Antifungal Therapy of Suspected Invasive Mould Infections
Evaluating EL219 as a candidate for early antifungal therapy

Enrollment Status: Enrollment Opening Spring/Summer 2026
Summary: The Elion study is a Phase 2 Industry-sponsored study (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07215273) for a new drug candidate in treating suspected invasive mould infections.
Contact: idcru@mgh.harvard.edu

Quotes from former staff

“At ID CRU, I managed a large national observational trial, formed longitudinal relationships with wonderful research participants, worked with an amazing study team, and collaborated with external sponsors and internal research and clinic groups. I learned how to be a leader and a listener and balance detail orientation with big-picture thinking! I am grateful for the years at ID CRU and the friends I made along the way. - Taing Nandi Aung, MS (Former Clinical Project Manager)

“Working at the IDCRU allowed me to expand my research, teamwork and leadership toolkit through collaboration and management of clinical research projects. I've been able to learn the ins and outs of bench to bedside research in a way that has given me a deeper appreciation for research that I don't think I would have found just in the classroom. I've found that through my clinical trial work in the unit I've met patients who have positively impacted my journey, had insightful conversations, learned fascinating clinical pearls, and gained new skills that have been incredibly helpful to my studies as a current medical student.” - Brittany Archie (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“While working at the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit, I primarily worked on the RECOVER Long COVID Study and international HIV studies. I learned about conducting research studies from start to finish, project development and management, regulatory management, and quality control. It was a privilege to work with incredible doctors, nurses, coordinators, and study staff on a range of research projects.” -Francesca Caramazza (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“I will always cherish my time at the ID CRU! I was fortunate to learn from exceptional mentors, collaborate with a talented and driven team, and form lifelong friendships. I also had the privilege of developing both my clinical and research skills through direct work with study participants and principal investigators across a variety of projects. As I move forward into the next phase of my career, I will continue to center compassion, inclusivity, and patient-centered care—values embodied by the ID CRU team.” -Sarah Flannery (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“As a CRC at the ID CRU, I learned that although there are challenges to overcome to make healthcare and clinical services equitable for all populations, it is doable and even more so when you're working with a compassionate team that is intentional about how patients are taken care of. When I joined the ID CRU, the national RECOVER project on Long COVID was like a rite of passage for CRCs, but one that was very rewarding. Working on this project during an ongoing pandemic was timely and brought me face-to-face with the different types of people who were impacted by the disease, who I tried to help during my time working together.” -Mabelin Garcia (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“As a clinical research coordinator with the ID CRU, I have been so grateful to be a part of a culture of collaboration and service to each other, our patients, and the high-quality research we are doing. I have particularly enjoyed the educational opportunities and the breadth of studies I was involved in, from novel anti-fungal medication trials to a brain imaging study to a large-scale observational study on Long COVID.” -Colin Goodbred (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“My experience at the ID CRU was my first introduction to real-world, teamwork and genuine collaboration have set an outstanding standard for all of my future endeavors. I was lucky to work under a compassionate supervisor and with fantastic colleagues who made ID CRU into a welcoming and intellectually stimulating environment. As I leave ID CRU, I am not only taking with me a new understanding of clinical research but also how to make research happen: from the big picture start-up submissions to micromanaging all the patients who are the heart of the study, with compassion at the forefront.” - Sadia Laisa (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)

“While I gained valuable knowledge at the ID CRU about the logistics of research, study setup, and collaborating with different organizations, the biggest lesson I will carry forward from my time here is the importance of making research accessible. Throughout my time at the ID CRU, I worked on a variety of studies with varying patient populations. Watching my colleagues consistently prioritize the reduction of barriers to research participation was an incredibly valuable experience to be a part of. Recognizing the importance of access to research, and to all aspects of medical care, is something I will continue to return to throughout my future career. I worked on an Mpox vaccine study during my time at the ID CRU. This study was run entirely at MGH, without an outside sponsor, and with a smaller study team. The collaborative environment of a smaller local study team allowed me to be involved in all aspects of the research, to build strong relationships with the participants, and to see the study from start-up all the way to the end of data collection.” -Kristin Meader (Former Clinical Research Coordinator)