Examples of our clinical pharmacology expertise are found in all our sites. Two Units in particular – Baltimore, Maryland, USA and Bloemfontein, South Africa – demonstrate the cutting-edge capabilities of PAREXEL’s Clinical Pharmacology International Network.
Baltimore – PET Studies
The Baltimore Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit has a unique collaboration with a local university-based positron emission tomography (PET) center with two cyclotrons on site and a full time radiochemist that provides clients with access to advanced neuroimaging and radiochemistry capabilities. Between PAREXEL and our partner, we provide a full slate of services for PET studies, including:
- Protocol development
- Clinical execution
- PET neuroimaging
- Image review and analysis
- Radioligand synthesis/development
- Project management
- Subject recruitment
- Safety management
- Data management
The Baltimore site also has clinical specialties in vaccine/immunology, pulmonary studies, and oncology.
Bloemfontein – Glucose Clamp Unit
The Bloemfontein Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit established a manual Glucose Clamp Unit in 1995. Since then, more than 1,400 euglycaemic clamp profiles have been performed for more than 30 clamp studies investigating insulins and insulin analogues. The Unit has grown from three beds to 10, and features start of the art instrumentation, including:
- 14 YSI instruments, using the oxidative method of determining blood glucose and lactate
- CATS-cp system
- I-STAT for determining serum potassium
- IVAC P2000 syringe pumps and IVAC 597 volumetric pumps for infusion of glucose, heparanised, normal saline, or insulin, as required.
In addition to serving as one of PAREXEL’s Bioanalytical Laboratories, the Bloemfontein site also has clinical specialties in ophthalmology, plethysmography and cardiology including QTc and cardiac surveillance.