Jefferson Clinical Research Institute
Contact Us
We are located at 833 Chestnut Street in Suite 900. For directions through Google Maps, click here. For general inquiries, please contact: JCRI@jefferson.edu.
The mission of the Jefferson Clinical Research Institute (JCRI)is to provide a centralized service-line approach to cutting-edge, highly effective and compliant clinical research.

JCRI offers a variety of services designed to promote the successful development, implementation, and management of clinical research at Thomas Jefferson University.
JCRI operates under the leadership of the Executive Director David J. Whellan, MD, MPH, James C. Wilson Professor of Medicine, Associate Provost for Clinical Research at Jefferson, and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the SKMC.
JCRI Services
Project Development & Management
JCRI Project Development and Management offers services to support Jefferson faculty investigators in all phases of clinical research, including proposal development, protocol implementation, and preparation and dissemination of deliverables. The Project Development and Management group specializes in investigator initiated studies.
- Grant proposal development
- Support for investigator initiated project development
- Project and data management
- Administration of Clinicaltrials.gov
- Preparation and dissemination of deliverables (abstracts, posters, manuscripts)
- Funding announcements
For questions & inquiries, contact Melissa McCarey, MPH, Assistant Director of Project Development & Management.
Clinical Operations
JCRI Clinical Operations offers services to support our investigators for all types of clinical research, including staffing and managing regulatory compliance. Clinical Operations specializes in industry sponsored trials and also provides as needed coverage for investigator initiated studies.
- Regulatory and IRB management
- RN and Non-RN Study coordinator support (Full time, part time, and as needed coverage for employees on leave)
- Data entry and management
For questions and inquiries, contact
Agbenu Amali, MPH MS RN, Associate Director of Clinical Operations
Business Operations
JCRI Business Operations oversees and manages all pre-award and post-award services for clinical research. All Jefferson faculty seeking funding for clinical research are required work through the office of Business Operations to manage grant applications, contracts, budgets, and Medicare coverage analyses.
- Federal grant and Industry contract proposal submission
- Grant administration
- Budget development
- Medicare Coverage Analysis
- Contract Management and invoicing
- Contract and Grant close-out
For questions and inquiries, contact
Ron Polizzi, MBA CRA, Director of Business Operations
Leadership Team
Laura Vinci, RN MBA Senior Director, Operations |
215-503-4883 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Ron Polizzi, MBA CRA Director, Business Operations |
215-503-2127 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Michael Caggiano Associate Director, Business Operations |
Email 215-503-4746 215-503-2365 fax |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Jenny Campbell, MS MBA Assistant Director, Research Billing Compliance |
215-503-4282 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Agbenu Amali, MPH MSN RN Associate Director, Clinical Operations |
215-503-8954 |
925 Chestnut Street Suite 130 |
Teri Manning, SPHR SHRM-SPC Senior Project Manager, PIER and JCRI |
215-955-1396 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Melissa McCarey, MPH Assistant Director, Project Development and Management |
215-503-7417 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Marisa Cinousis, MBA Assistant Director, Clinical Research Systems |
215-503-4070 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |
Kathy O'Malley, RN, BSN, CCRP Associate Director, Education and Training |
215-503-4079 |
833 Chestnut St. Suite 900 |