Adam Norris started working in clinical research by chance. After earning his BS in communications, secondary education and history at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, he spent a few years as a healthcare administrator.
Then the Indiana native decided to explore life in Los Angeles, where he met someone who worked for a research center. The center offered him a job as a research assistant. “It seemed like an interesting opportunity,” says Norris, who learned about clinical research on the job and at conferences. He became a Certified Clinical Research Professional.
Moving up the Clinical Research Ladder
Norris worked for two more research centers in California, including six years as a clinical research coordinator. At the City of Hope National Medical Center, Norris coordinated Phase I clinical trials in CAR T-Cell therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He worked on both sponsored and investigator-initiated trials. City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.
Returning to Indiana
By now, Norris was married and had two children. He loved his work at City of Hope, but wanted to give his kids a Midwest childhood closer to relatives and longtime family friends. In 2016, Norris joined Shelbourne Knee Center, where he oversees research operations and studies. He enjoys working on investigator-initiated trials, the focus of the center’s research.
“We do more than other research centers that just coordinate studies for sponsors,” says Norris. “We come up with the ideas, work through completion of the study and maintain our own data.”
Continually Improving Treatment
Shelbourne Knee Center’s data now cover 37+ years of research and follow-up with more than 13,000 patients.
The goal of the Shelbourne Knee Center research program is to continually improve treatment for patients with knee injuries and conditions by:
- Tracking patient outcomes
- Studying factors related to those outcomes
Along with Norris, the research team is comprised of:
- Orthopedic surgeons K. Donald Shelbourne, MD, and Rodney Benner, MD
- Research manager and medical writer Tinker Gray
- Research coordinators Heather Garrison and Diane Davidson, BS, MBA, CCRC
- The practice’s seven physical therapists and one athletic trainer
- The X-ray and medical technicians
The research team meets twice a month to discuss ideas for new studies and review data and dissemination efforts. “We use our research to improve treatment for our patients and to further scientific medical knowledge,” says Norris.
Moving Research from Concept to Clinical Practice
Norris works on developing study protocols and submissions to institutional review boards, ensuring that Shelbourne Knee Center research is compliant with both Community Health Network policies and federal regulations. He also assists with researching, authoring and preparing scientific documents such as reports, manuscripts and publications. In addition, Norris oversees the two research coordinators, who work hard to ensure that the patient follow-up rate remains high.
“I work with people who are extraordinarily knowledgeable and capable,” says Norris. “Everybody always has something positive to offer.”
When not working, Norris likes to kayak on Lake Michigan and the White River, take long-distance bike rides on the Monon Trail, and hike and play soccer with his wife and his children, ages 3
and 5.
For more information about Shelbourne Knee Center’s research program, call 888-FIX-KNEE.