UNC Clinical Research Partners Launches a New Era of Clinical Trial Coordination

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health are advancing a new, system-wide approach to clinical research through the launch of UNC Clinical Research Partners (CRP)—a joint initiative between UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Health designed to expand access to clinical trials and accelerate industry-sponsored research.

The initial rollout will be limited to six research units within the UNC School of Medicine to optimize CRP processes before broader expansion in July 2026.

UNC Clinical Research Partners was created to simplify and strengthen the administrative study start up process for non-federally funded clinical trials across the UNC Health system. By offering a single point of contact for investigators and sponsors, CRP aims to streamline processes, reduce startup timelines, and improve coordination across institutions.

The initiative is grounded in a shared goal: To expand patient access to cutting-edge treatments while enhancing UNC’s ability to attract and conduct industry-sponsored clinical trials.

CRP is beginning operations on March 30 with a focused optimization phase (March 30 – June 30) involving six School of Medicine units:

• Cardiology

• Pulmonary/Critical Care

• Gastroenterology (GI)

• Nephrology

• Radiology

• Psychiatry

These units were selected based on their readiness to bring a diversity of clinical trial portfolios and engage with CRP to help refine its processes as it prepares to broaden its offerings across the institution in July.

While UNC has long been a leader in clinical research, CRP addresses the challenges created by the complexities of our statewide healthcare system by building a more coordinated, “customer-friendly” infrastructure that:

• Streamlines study activation and administrative processes

• Expands access to trials across UNC Health’s statewide network

• Increases opportunities for patients to participate in innovative treatments

• Strengthens UNC’s competitiveness with peer academic medical centers

Following the optimization phase, CRP will move into program activation beginning July 1, expanding its model to all research units at the University and increasing engagement with industry sponsors for trials at UNC CH.

Future phases will extend CRP’s reach to additional UNC Health entities by working with UNC Health’s Office of Clinical Research towards the goal of building an integrated, system-wide clinical research enterprise.

UNC Clinical Research Partners represents a significant step into the future for clinical research at UNC Health and the University. By aligning expertise, streamlining operations, and expanding access, CRP is helping position the University and UNC Health as the partner of choice for clinical research—while delivering greater opportunities and better outcomes for patients across North Carolina.

For questions regarding CRP’s launch and activation, please email crp@unc.edu.