History

Medical research has a long and rich history at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital (SHMC) since research began here in 2000. Prior to that time research was conducted through the Heart Institute of Spokane beginning in 1991. Our researchers have been involved with numerous ground breaking trials, such as Robotic Heart Surgery and novel treatments for diabetic kidney disease. In 2004, the research department of The Heart Institute of Spokane became part of research at SHMC and Providence Medical Research Center (PMRC) was created. This combination of services created a broader range of study in the field of medical research and a depth of expertise to the research department.

Clinical research is an important part of our services at SHMC.  Conducting research studies provides valuable insight to physicians and staff at SHMC. Individuals who participate in research may gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available to the general public. Clinical research trials also help to improve and advance medical care. Most of the advanced medical technologies in use today would not have been available without the knowledge gained through medical research.

At PMRC, our specialists provide high-quality services with attention to detail in research along with a personal touch in caring for the participants in our studies.  Our investigators continue to be selected, as part of an elite few, to participate in the latest clinical trials. Original research as well as industry sponsored research and National Institutes of Health trials are all conducted at PMRC.

Providence Medical Research Center is dedicated to promoting and enhancing quality clinical research as part of the Mission of Providence Health & Services.

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Do you have a question? You can contact us in a variety of ways.

Email: Researchinfo@providence.org
Phone: 509-474-4345 or 800-377-0458
Fax: 509-474-4325

Mailing Address:  104 W 5th Ave. Suite 350E
                         Spokane, WA 99204

 You can also use the online contact form below to contact us.

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Providence Medical Research Center is located in The Fifth & Browne Medical Building (East Building).

Our mailing address is:
104 W 5^th Ave. Suite 350 E
Spokane, WA 99204

Find maps and driving directions. Using the "Maps and Directions" link above, click on the mapquest icon to be sent to a pre-filled form with our address. Simply fill in your address for custom driving directions.

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Katherine R. Tuttle, MD
Executive Director for Research

• Dr. Tuttle's research interests are in the areas of diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, renal vascular disease and nutrition. She was associate editor of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases 2002-2004. Dr. Tuttle is co-chair of the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Workgroup for Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease and the chair of the Healthcare Provider Workgroup for the National Diabetes Education Program (National Institutes of Health). She is also co-chair of the Institutional Review Board-Spokane, which oversees the protection of human subjects in clinical research. She serves on the boards of the Washington Technology Center and the College of Sciences at Washington State University.
  
  Dr. Tuttle has received the Outstanding Clinical Faculty award and is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She has a dual appointment as professor of Basic Medical Sciences in the WWAMI program of Washington State University. Dr. Tuttle holds fellowships in the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Nephrology.   She is also currently a member of the Scientific Evaluation Board for the National Kidney Disease Education Program.

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• Multi-center clinical trials in multiple specialties
• Original, investigator-initiated studies
• Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies
• Physiology studies
• Cellular and molecular biology

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