Michael B. Fessler, M.D.
Chief, Clinical Research Branch;
Clinical Director and Chair - Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC);
Principal Investigator

Tel 984-287-4081
[email protected]

NIH Intramural Profile Michael B. Fessler, M.D.

P.O. Box 12233

Mail Drop D2-01

Durham, NC 27709

Delivery Instructions

Research Summary

Many human diseases result from environmental exposures that can affect individuals who are genetically susceptible to the development of a disease. NIEHS has an active research program that investigates the mechanisms of such diseases. The mission of the Clinical Research Branch is to enhance NIEHS-led research by:

• Translating basic laboratory findings to humans
• Studying interactions between genetic susceptibility (host factors) and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of complex human traits and diseases
• Identifying populations at risk and developing novel preventative and therapeutic strategies to combat human diseases
• View all Clinical Studies performed by NIEHS

The Clinical Research Branch pursues this mission by:

• Developing resources and systems for NIEHS investigators involved in the conduct of human investigation
• Fostering growth in clinical research and building new areas of collaboration between basic and clinical scientists
• Providing an effective interface between investigators, health care professionals, the clinical research unit and other clinical facilities in the Research Triangle Park area.
• Developing and conducting clinical research educational programs for investigators, coordinators and administrators
• Minimizing obstacles to translational research at NIEHS

The Clinical Research Branch supports multiple NIEHS research groups that focus on a wide variety of environmental conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, reproductive diseases, neurological disorders, cancer, and many others. The branch’s ultimate goal is to combat environmentally-induced human disease in three substantive ways:

• Developing better diagnostic tools to identify high risk populations for environmentally induced diseases
• Developing novel therapeutic strategies
• Developing novel preventative strategies

Key Components of the Clinical Research Branch

Clinical Research Unit, North Carolina

Our facility allows our scientists to conduct studies that involve on-site human sample collection, analysis and functional assessment.

NIEHS Medical Student Research Fellowships

NIEHS offers one-year research fellowships for third-year medical students for medical students to train at NIEHS.

Office of Human Research and Community Engagement

Supports NIEHS scientists by ensuring that human research subjects' protection is at the forefront of clinical research planning, and engages to enhance health resiliency, disease prevention, and health.

PEGS: Personalized Environment and Genes Study

The Personalized Environment and Genes Study (PEGS) integrates genetic and environmental data to understand disease etiology, identify disease risk factors, and improve disease prevention.

Contact

Lawrence S. Kirschner, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Clinician;
Medical Director, NIEHS Clinical Research Unit

Tel 984-287-3562
[email protected]

111 TW ALEXANDER DR

Clinical Research Unit / Modular Clinic

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

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Support Staff

Beverly Sellers-Robinson
Administrative Specialist

Tel 301-451-6269
Fax 301-451-5586
[email protected]