As part of our affiliation with the University of Colorado Denver, the Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center (UCDHTC) is devoted to supporting research studies that improve treatment for children and adults with bleeding and clotting disorders. The center is currently participating in 36 unique studies that are led by the dedicated clinicians and research personnel. In addition to helping guide the future of patient treatment, these studies are instrumental in supporting the cost of maintaining the clinic and its staff.

Our on-site laboratory is responsible for the storage and analysis of thousands of blood samples. The lab not only serves the clinic, but is also responsible for running tests that are on the cutting edge of research in terms of detecting, defining and evaluating disorders of the clotting system. Drs. Manco-Johnson and Goldenberg are in charge of the lab working with Linda Jacobson and Kelly McFarland plus various students that work with us in the laboratory.

In addition to lab research, the clinical research department coordinates many studies that evaluate the effectiveness of improved drugs on clotting in people with bleeding disorders. The center also participates in many studies that seek to improve patient care; such as long and short-term joint health, Factor VIII inhibitor immune tolerance therapies, and patient healthcare costs and access to the necessary types of treatment. The team also collects information about risk factors for thrombosis, features of blood clots, treatment or prevention efforts for blood clots and long-term outcomes in order to better understand the outcomes of clots or clotting risk in patients so that care can be improved. The clinical research group includes all clinical staff-- Drs. Manco-Johnson and Goldenberg, Sue Geraghty, Sharon Funk and Brenda Riske and the data manager, Rick Shearer and other staff that provide support for these efforts. Carissa Smith, the research coordinator, manages all aspects of all these studies and coordinates study participation.

The UCDHTC is coordinating two national multi-center studies, and is participating in several national studies sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society. As part of our commitment towards raising national awareness for people with bleeding and clotting disorders, the center has developed several databases that are used to house the information collected for these studies in order to provide summaries of treatment progress.

If you would like to learn more about any one of the many studies at the UCDHTC, please contact our clinical research coordinator, Carissa Smith at 303-724-0363.