Clinical Research Specialist I - Biobank & Brain Donation Program - Department of Neurology (Hybrid)

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cedars‑Sinai’s autopsy program helps understand why dementia develops and how treatment can be improved. The program is a partnership between the Neurology Department and interested patients and families to obtain an autopsy shortly after death to study the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues of individuals with memory disorders. Note: Scheduling flexibility including evening, weekend, and holiday rotation commitments may be necessary. As a Clinical Research Specialist I, you will provide clinical research knowledge by participating in the design and implementation of research projects as needed. This position is responsible for specific and assigned aspects of research infrastructure development, coordinates projects, and communicates status to leadership. The Brain Bank Coordinator (Donor & Operations) will have a primary focus on donor coordination, family communication, and rapid autopsy logistics. This role serves as the primary contact for donor families, hospice, and clinical teams, and participates in a 24/7 on-call rotation for donor death notifications. This role coordinates overnight and weekend brain donations and rapid autopsies, works with diener services for tissue procurement, ensures consent, documentation, and regulatory compliance, coordinates CSF and plasma collection with clinical and research labs, maintains the donor database and clinical metadata, and tracks bio-specimen distribution.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree is required.
3 years of proven experience in area of research specialty is required.
Maintains strict patient confidentiality according to HIPAA regulations and applicable law.
Participates in required training and education programs.

Nice To Haves

Scheduling flexibility including evening, weekend, and holiday rotation commitments may be necessary.

Responsibilities

Coordinates research projects at an institutional or departmental level.
Communicates project status and improvement areas with leadership in a timely manner.
Provides guidance regarding project planning, project logistics, and project implementation.
May implement and coordinate department-wide initiatives such as research quality management or clinical trial recruitment efforts.
Ensures compliance with all federal and local agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local Institutional Review Board.
Maintains research practices using Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
Maintains strict patient confidentiality according to HIPAA regulations and applicable law.
Participates in required training and education programs.
Serves as primary contact for donor families, hospice, and clinical teams.
Participates in 24/7 on-call rotation for donor death notifications.
Coordinates overnight and weekend brain donations and rapid autopsies.
Coordinates with diener services for tissue procurement.
Ensure consent, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Coordinate CSF and plasma collection with clinical and research labs.
Maintain donor database and clinical metadata.
Track bio-specimen distribution.