Because of our diverse patient populations, the Family Medicine clinics are in high-demand as research sites. Over the past 8 years, 35 studies have used the clinics to recruit, conduct study visits and complete questionnaires.
If you would like to post research flyers, recruit patients, survey providers or staff, or use facilities for research activities at Briarwood Family Medicine, Chelsea Health Center, Dexter Family Medicine, Family Medicine at Domino's Farms, Livonia Health Center, Ypsilanti Health Center or the Walk-in Clinic, your study must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Family Medicine before you start any aspect of the study. Ideally, investigators should discuss the project with the Medical Director at the clinical site of interest (find Medical Director contact information here) or a Family Medicine research faculty member before ever submitting a grant or IRB application.
To start the review and approval process to conduct research and/or post study flyers, you must complete one or both of the application forms found below. Further instructions for completing the applications are included with the forms.
Please send the completed form as well as the required documents for approval, to Mary Rapai, email: mrapai@med.umich.edu and/or by fax: 734-998-7335.
Demographics of Our Clinics
To get a snapshot of each clinic's demographics, click on the clinic site to see descriptive data, pulled from January 1-December 31, 2020:
Total Patients: 8431
Female: 4929
Male: 3502
Patients ages 0-18 years: 922
Caucasian: 5844
African American: 1299
Asian: 630
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 33
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 12
Other: 477
Total Patients: 8719
Female: 5149
Male: 3570
Patients ages 0-18 years: 803
Caucasian: 8247
African American: 165
Asian: 63
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 36
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 126
Total Patients: 5394
Female: 3194
Male: 2200
Patients ages 0-18 years: 778
Caucasian: 4955
African American: 99
Asian: 136
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 21
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 89
Total Patients: 5522
Female: 3249
Male: 2273
Patients ages 0-18 years: 635
Caucasian: 3768
African American: 482
Asian: 1008
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 15
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 168
Total Patients: 5631
Female: 3244
Male: 2387
Patients ages 0-18 years: 897
Caucasian: 3361
African American: 665
Asian: 1276
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 13
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 214
Total Patients: 6120
Female: 3849
Male: 2270
Patients ages 0-18 years: 694
Caucasian: 2599
African American: 2620
Asian: 177
American Indian or Alaskan Native: 23
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: < 10
Other: 600
FAQ's for Conducting Research in Our Clinics
The Letter of Support is a key document in your research application. The LOS provides approval from the research site's Medical Director and details the clinic's support of your research. Details should include what the clinic will be providing, in terms of: space, personnel, labs, etc. The Letter of Support should either 1.) placed on clinic letterhead, dated and signed by the Medical Director or 2.) be a direct email from the Medical Director to Mary Rapai (mrapai@med.umich.edu). The LOS can be brief, but should 1.) name the study, 2.) state why the research is important, and 3.) list exactly what the clinic will be doing to support the research. Your study staff can write the letter for the Medical Director, but you must inform the Medical Director that they are welcome to edit or rewrite the LOS, at the Medical Director's discretion.
The application(s) can be submitted anytime prior to the start of research, but please allow for enough time for approval. It is a good idea to start working on the application as soon as you receive your award notice.
See a list of our clinics' active studies here.
