The HAWAII CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER (HCRC) was established in 1989 as an independent, free-standing research site which specialized in conducting clinical trials with new investigation medications. Located in Honolulu on the beautiful island of Oahu, the Center is centrally placed within an urban, suburban and rural community of almost a million people. This is a particularly unique ethnic and cross-cultural population, comprising approximately one third Caucasian, one third Asian, and the other one third African-American, American Indian, Filipino, Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islanders. HCRC has the very special opportunity to draw from this truly globally representative community.

Although HCRC has predominantly focused upon trials with CNS or psychotropic compounds, the Center now has the capacity to direct research addressing the full spectrum of pharmacological agents. We have access to a network of qualified physicians who are able to work with us as co- or sub-investigators.

Denis Mee-Lee, MD, MS, CPI, the President and Principal Investigator of HCRC, is a former Deputy Director of Health and Mental Health Chief for the State of Hawaii, and currently is Chief, Department of Psychiatry, Castle Medical Center, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Director of Clinical Research, Kahi Mohala Psychiatric Hospital, and President of Hawaii Care Alternatives. This past experience and present involvements provide a special access to an extensive range of healthcare facilities and providers which facilitates patient recruitment. HCRC’s record of study enrollment is excellent usually exceeding most other sites in rates and levels of recruitment.

As the 50th state, Hawaii shares the same statutory, governmental, institutional, and medical service delivery arrangements with other states in the Union. Despite our distance from East Coast centers, airlines tend to provide more direct, non-stop flight schedules to the Islands, resulting in some time and cost efficiency as compared with flights to many west coast and southern destinations. Despite initial apprehension, every pharmaceutical firm and CRO that we have collaborated with in conducting studies have remarked positively about the logistical factors at the conclusion of studies.

HCRC is fully equipped to handle a wide range of Phase I - IV clinical trials. We are affiliated with laboratories, radiological services, ophthalmological and cardiology consultants, and a broad range of physician specialists. Our in-house staff comprises psychiatrists, specialty physicians, psychologists, therapists, registered nurses, as well as clinical research coordinators. We can bring in any level of other specialty staff as a particular study demands. Our inpatient studies are conducted at the Kahi Mohala Specialty Psychopharmacology Services Unit.

We welcome the opportunity to conduct new clinical trials. HCRC is a small, focused, and specialized clinical research site. For additional information, please contact Denis Mee-Lee, MD, MS, CPI at (808) 538-2880.