Published April 30, 2026, via Research News
Colleagues,
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine embrace shared goals to be recognized as international leaders in medicine, advancing medical knowledge and practices with life-changing impacts through the work of innovative research. As premier research institutions, there is an obligation to strengthen and promote processes that cultivate excellence in research.
In summer 2023, BJH and WashU Medicine formed the Joint Research Leadership Committee to develop consistent processes and policies around research. Specifically, the committee was tasked with developing guidelines for clinical studies within hospital spaces that meet BJH and WashU Medicine policies, regulations, and procedures; enhance the success of the research; and minimize interference with hospital workflows, patient care, and proper use of hospital resources.
To accomplish this, the committee considered the following:
- Staff and research regulations vary between BJH and WashU Medicine. Each organization is accountable to patients and external regulatory entities, so these procedures must be followed.
- BJH has a strong interest in supporting the success of WashU Medicine research since it is central to BJH’s ability to deliver cutting-edge care and attract/retain outstanding physicians.
- WashU researchers have a vested interest in communicating effectively with hospital personnel about their studies since a collaborative approach will optimally promote efficient study conduct, overcome barriers, and support the care of all patients.
As a result, the committee developed the following guidelines and resources:
- BJH/WashU Joint Clinical Research Position Statement–A statement outlining collaborative principles guiding successful implementation of research projects in hospital spaces.
- Clinical Research Guidelines–Designed for principal investigators and research teams to ensure safety and compliance with hospital policy and procedures. These materials can be accessed via PolicyTech (note: there is a link to Policy Tech in Epic).
Additional resources include:
- BJC Research Operations SharePoint Hub–Developed for BJH employees and WashU Medicine research team members for easy access to hospital policies and procedures related to research taking place at BJH.
- WashU Medicine Center for Clinical Studies (CCS) site
- WashU Medicine Office of the Vice Chancellor of Research (OVCR) site
The committee also formed the Research Subcommittee. This group, which includes BJH and WashU Medicine leaders, is continuing work to further define roles and responsibilities for research activities, as well as designing collaborative initiatives where BJH and WashU Medicine work together to promote the scientific success and positive community impact of studies conducted at BJH. More information will be shared about their work in the future.
Together, both BJH and WashU Medicine continue to make great strides, fostering an environment where the significance of quality research is seen as integral to achieving excellence and innovation in patient care.
For questions, please contact Sarah Guethle, senior manager of research operations for BJC HealthCare, and Yi Zhang, JD, RN, assistant dean of clinical research for WashU Medicine.
Katie Henderson, MD
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Mark Lowe, MD, PhD
Vice Chancellor of Research
Senior Associate Dean for Research, School of Medicine
Harvey R. Colten Professor of Pediatric Science
WashU Medicine
Roz Corcoran
Executive Director, Accreditation and Compliance
BJC HealthCare
Yi Zhang, JD, RN
Assistant Dean for Clinical Research
WashU Medicine