• IT& Biostatistics
  • Medical Genetics
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Research and Training


Information Technology and Biostatistics Section

Information Technology Unit

The Information Technology Unit is responsible for:

  • Operation and maintenance of the center’s network, shared storage, back-up and individual computer stations.
  • Operation and maintenance of patient and laboratory management software.
  • Maintenance of the security and integrity of all computing hardware and software.
  • Updating software and hardware based on requirement and expansion.
  • Development and maintenance of the center’s website, internet and email and local area network services.

Biostatistics Unit

The Biostatistics Unit is responsible for:

  1. Provision of statistical support to researchers at the center at different stages of executing their projects including the design and analysis.
  2. Development and maintenance of the various databases for the diagnostic, and the research components of the center.
  3. Development and maintenance of the research program registries.
Design and execution of population-based genetic epidemiologic studies


Department of Medical Genetics

The department of Medical Genetics is the provider of health-care services, as it pertains to genetic disorders and birth defects, to the children of the Shafallah Center and its related institutions, as well as their families. The department provides a clinical diagnostic service, management and follow-up and a counseling service, all directed to the children and their families. The department also provides continued education and training of physicians, counselors and nurses in the care of genetic disorders. Within its scope of services, the department offers the clinical phenotypic delineation of subjects for the purpose of research conducted in the Department of Molecular Genetics.


Department of Molecular Genetics

The SMGC's Molecular Genetics Department provides state-of-the-art service, education, and research, regarding a full spectrum of genetic disorders that produce childhood developmental disabilities. The staff of the SMGC Department of Molecular Genetics includes clinical and basic scientists who specialize in the various areas of Biochemistry Molecular Biology, and Clinical Genetics.

The Department of Molecular Genetics comprises two units, the Core Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory.


Department of Research and Training

Research Section

Training Section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Section

The Office of Research supports & coordinates all research activities in SMGC and works to facilitate research opportunities & research environment for both SMGC & Shafallah Center personnel.

The Office is committed to providing a culture of continuous learning for all SGMC staff, to foster a high level expertise and provide the tools necessary for high performance in research.

 Duties & Responsibilities

 Associated Boards

Application Process

 

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Duties & Responsibilities:

Primary duties include:

1. Funding information services:

The Office of Research is responsible for assuring that proposals submitted for funding and awards made to the Center meet the sponsors requirements. Services offered include:

  • Clarification of sponsors' proposal guidelines and requirements for sponsored funding.
  • Review of proposals for accuracy of budget components and rates such as fringe benefits and indirect costs.
  • Final pre-submission proposal review, compliance verification, and institutional signature. (All proposals for external funding must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research prior to submission to funding agency.)
  • Negotiation and acceptance of grant and contract awards.
  • Liaison with other administrative offices, such as Research/Cost Accounting, and Purchasing, for specialized support matters.
  • Assistance with selected post-award matters such as prior approvals, budget revisions, no-cost extensions, and subcontracts issuance.

2. Proposal processing support:

 To offer staff members with proposal development by:

  • Assisting with budget preparation and completion of assurances and other forms.
  • Ensuring that Institutional Review Board requirements are met.
  • Copying and mailing proposals.
  • Submitting electronic proposals.

      3. Enhancing Compliance Services:

·         By providing members of the research community with the services, tools and information they need to ensure compliance.

·         By promoting responsible research practices, and enhancing compliance services related to human subjects protection and conflict of interest, and to develop coordinated policies and procedures that are clear, consistent, and whenever possible, ease the administrative burdens on PIs.

  • The Office of Research oversees the Ethical compliance committee (Institutional Review Board) and the Scientific Review committee. And insure that all proposals comply with the national and international laws and regulations concerning the protection of human subjects in research.

4. Record keeping:

The Office of Research maintains records and provides reports of proposal and award activity by:

  • Maintaining files of active proposals and awards.
  • Keeping records of completed and terminated research projects.
  • Providing regular reports to the SMGC Director and other administrators concerning proposal and award activity.
  • Responding to requests for information or special reports.

5.  Publication of research manuscripts and delivery of results in national and international scientific meetings.

Goals and Objectives:

  • Provide exceptional research administrative services while effectively managing risks and opportunities, through implementing electronic research administration systems.   
  • Develop strategies and plans for open and clear communication.
  • Improve researcher productivity and satisfaction by reducing administrative burden.
  • Decrease barriers to collaboration.

Involvement:

To enable the achievement of excellence by the research personnel, the Office of Research involves in the followings:

  • Partners with the research community to create a culture of high achievement.
  • Promotes shared responsibility, the ethical conduct of research, and compliance.
  • Enhances researchers’ abilities to obtain and manage grants.
  • Strategically invests in promising research and researchers.
  • Creates integrated services, transparent research administration, infrastructure, and streamlined processes.
  • Broadens awareness of the value of SMGC research.
  • Develops strong relationships with sponsors.
  • Enhances the ability to perform research in national & global community.

 All proposals submitted by SMGC personnel must be transmitted to and reviewed by Office of Research staff to assure adherence to internal and external policies and procedures. The Head of the Office serves as the designated Center Officer for all related matters.

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Associated Boards:

1. Scientific Review Board:

Scientific Review Board (SRB) is charged with ensuring that research submitted for review to SMGC Institutional Review Board is scientifically sound.  In so doing the SRB will serve as the scientific advisor to the SMGC IRB and will, therefore, play a key role in ensuring that the highest standards for the conduct of research involving human subjects are met . 

This model proposes separating out the scientific and conflict of interest aspects of human subject’s research oversight from the ethical aspects, which are the central charge of IRB.  This allows each of these aspects to receive a more appropriate and specialized reviews.  While the IRB still serves as the final authority in this oversight model, it is able to focus its attention more on the ethical issues.

The SRB has a core membership that is made up of individuals who have expertise in those fields which generate the most research proposals requiring IRB review.  In addition the SRB relies on an extended community of scientific experts, beyond the core membership, to assist in executing its responsibilities.

2.Institutonal Review Board:

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for assuring the ethical protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects from research risks.

The IRB assure that all human research conducted under the auspices of Shafallah Center are ethically and methodologically sound as required under public law and, most importantly, as expected by the public trust.

The IRB is a highly professional committee that reviews and approves human research protocols of various disciplines and all related processes and documents to ensure that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected above all other considerations.

 The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications, or disapprove all research activities that fall within their jurisdiction in conformity with all ethical foundations for the Protection of Human Subjects From Research Risks.

The IRB functions independently, so as to protect its ethical mission without compromise and without any perception of conflict of interest or undue influence of power.

 SMGC IRB is composed of physicians, healthcare practitioners, ethicists, psychologists, community members, legal experts, and individuals with expertise in allied disciplines.

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Training Section

Training unit

The Training section is responsible for the organization and supervision of the continuous education and training of its employees in the form of structured lectures, interactive sessions, workshops and seminars.  The results of the training are translated into augmented skills, higher competency, additional responsibilities, and broadened theoretical knowledge on all important subject areas. 

 

The training offered at SMGC has been expanded to reach out to national and international recepients; these are university undergraduates and graduates of various health related disciplines.   The focus is to mentor them in the real world of molecular genetics, enhance their extra-curricular know-how, and promote health awareness as it relates to medical genetics. This in turn will help them master their skills, identify better career opportunities and increase their reserve of practical knowledge.

 

Duties

1.       Development and supervision of training programs for supportive services, such as social and genetic counseling.

2.       Development and supervision of training programs for the use of the core laboratory facilities and other facilities of the center.

3.       Development and supervision of training programs for use of databases, patient and test management databases and software.

4.       Development and maintenance of the center’s library, subscription to periodicals and access to the literature.

5.       Organizing the schedule for invited speakers, journal club and other educational activities.

6.       Development of brochures and educational material directed towards the community and the families

 

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