Community Health Clinical Research Corporation
The Future of Clinical Research
is
Community-Embedded
Advancing Care through Clinical Research
Community Health Clinical Research Corporation (CHCRC) is a first-of-its-kind national infrastructure which integrates clinical research directly into America's Community Health Centers. We are a structured, centralized system uniting Community Health Centers, Pharmaceutical Sponsors, and Clinical Research Organizations under disciplined governance and a shared mission. CHCRC enables clinical trials to operate safely, compliantly, and efficiently inside the very communities where care is already delivered.
Our rapidly expanding national network now supports access to nearly 300,000 patients across diverse populations, bringing research opportunities to historically underrepresented communities while enabling new, long-term sustainable income streams for safety-net providers.
Through centralized regulatory oversight, standardized operating procedures, embedded research coordinators, and integrated data systems, we remove operational friction and protect three non-negotiables:
* Patient Safety
* Clinical Integrity
* Center Sustainability
CHCRC integrates sponsors, health centers, and patients into one coordinated system, advancing clinical innovation and community care together.
This platform is intentionally designed to serve three distinct audiences: Patients & Volunteers, CHCs, and Pharmaceutical Sponsors & CROs.
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Who We Are: Executive Leadership
Dr. Thompson is a family physician whose career has been defined by both service and leadership in the Community Health Center movement. He was the Founder of the Community Health Center of Buffalo, serving as its President and CEO through its origination, licensing, and initial federal funding. His leadership extended beyond a single health center: • Served as President of the predecessor organization to CHCANYS (Community Health Care Association of New York State) for two years. • Was nominated to apply for Director of the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC). • Served as a BPHC consultant and reviewer for five years. • Served as a HRSA grant reviewer for more than 30 years, helping shape the funding and policy landscape for health centers nationwide. • Returned to leadership roles as CEO and CMO of CHCs two additional times during his career. • Today, serves as Co-Founder and CEO of CHCRC, bringing this lifetime of experience to bear on the urgent challenges facing CHCs. In addition to his professional leadership, Dr. Thompson’s life has also been marked by hardship and resilience: • The destruction of his private medical practice following Hurricane Sandy. • Personal health struggles, including traumatic brain injury and paralysis in his legs and left arm. • His role as primary caregiver for his spouse, who faces end-stage COPD, dementia, and multiple cancers. These professional achievements and personal hardships have forged a deeply reliable, empathetic, and mission-driven leader. Dr. Thompson embodies the values of the CHC movement itself: resilience, accountability, and service.
Dr. Johan A.
Cruz-Polanco, MD
Chief Operating
Officer
Dr. Cruz-Polanco began his medical career in the Dominican Republic before immigrating to the United States in pursuit of expanded opportunities for his young family. After obtaining legal citizenship, he faced the challenges common to many internationally trained physicians—systemic barriers that limited professional advancement despite his qualifications and experience. Amid the pressures of financial and familial responsibility, Dr. Cruz-Polanco experienced personal and professional setbacks that had lasting consequences. Nevertheless, he remained steadfast in his commitment to medicine and to serving others. His journey reflects the broader narrative of immigrant professionals who, despite talent and dedication, must navigate complex structural obstacles to achieve their full potential. While working within one of New York’s Community Health Centers, Dr. Cruz-Polanco continued his preparation for the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE). During this period, he met Dr. Thompson, whose shared vision for compassionate and equitable healthcare laid the foundation for what would become CHCRC. Through perseverance, reflection, and renewed faith, Dr. Cruz-Polanco redefined his mission: to ensure that no physician, family, or community is denied access to innovation, dignity, or hope. His work embodies the integration of personal resilience and professional excellence in advancing healthcare equity. A Partnership Forged Through Adversity Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cruz-Polanco met during a time of profound personal and professional challenge. Each was contending with the consequences of life’s unforeseen difficulties—health struggles, loss, and renewal. Rather than marking an end, this period became the genesis of a partnership grounded in shared faith, accountability, and a unified commitment to service. Together, they transformed adversity into purpose, establishing a foundation dedicated to advancing community health through compassion, integrity, and collaboration. Their partnership continues to exemplify the belief that healing begins not only in medicine, but in the strength of human connection and shared vision.
Charlena E.
Jackson, PHD
Chief Regulatory Officer
Charlena E. Jackson, PhD is a strategic regulatory and clinical research leader with more than 20 years of experience overseeing multi-site Phase I–IV clinical trials across oncology, neurology, cardiovascular, metabolic, and rare disease programs. She specializes in centralized regulatory governance, IRB submissions, regulatory document control, inspection readiness, and clinical trial compliance across domestic and international studies. Dr. Jackson is known for building scalable regulatory infrastructures, implementing standardized operating procedures (SOPs), and maintaining continuous audit-ready systems aligned with FDA (21 CFR), ICH-GCP, and OHRP requirements. Her work supports site activation, regulatory onboarding, and lifecycle compliance across multi-state research networks, helping organizations grow efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory integrity. Areas of expertise include: • Centralized Regulatory Affairs Leadership • Multi-Site IRB Submission & Regulatory Management • FDA (21 CFR), ICH-GCP, and OHRP Compliance • Audit & Inspection Readiness • Regulatory Document Control and eTMF Oversight • SOP Development and Governance Frameworks • CAPA Development and Risk Mitigation • Site Activation & Regulatory Onboarding
Jessica Jefferson
Director of Community Outreach
Jessica Jefferson is a community outreach and healthcare engagement professional dedicated to strengthening the connection between community members, healthcare providers, and clinical research opportunities. Through her work in outreach and patient engagement, she focuses on building trust within communities and ensuring that individuals—particularly those from underserved populations—are aware of and able to access innovative healthcare programs and clinical research initiatives. Jessica plays an important role in educating patients and community organizations about available health resources, prevention strategies, and opportunities to participate in clinical research. By fostering relationships with local organizations, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups, she helps expand awareness and participation in programs that improve both individual and community health outcomes. Known for her compassionate communication style, strong organizational skills, and deep commitment to service, Jessica helps bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. Her work supports efforts to make clinical research more accessible, inclusive, and representative of real-world patient populations. Through her outreach efforts, Jessica contributes to advancing patient-centered healthcare and expanding opportunities for communities to benefit from medical innovation.
Michael
Vanelli
Director of Endowment & Special Projects
Michael Vanelli is a career writer and project manager who has spent thousands of hours volunteering, always valuing outcomes first. In 2019, Mr. Vanelli received the Charles A. Frank Award for Philanthropy as the Love of Mankind, the Hannah J. Garton Prize for Commitment to Subject Mastery in Economics, and the George P. Bissel Prize for Proficiency in the English Language and Composition. Graduating Wesleyan University with a degree in Psychology, Education, & Writing, Mr. Vanelli has: spent three years involved in grantmaking; founded & supported numerous community involvement projects; led ~3 years of grant application & conscientious fundraising with a Pennsylvania start-up nonprofit supporting vulnerable, marginalized single mothers with comprehensive, two-generation anti-poverty programming; and raised over $500,000 for good causes. Mr. Vanelli knows how to recognize an efficient idea that maximizes impact. Mr. Vanelli has completed essential, long-standing web design supporting high volume clients for Recognition Advantage, hosted no-overhead fundraising and grantmaking campaigns for start-ups, and managed key projects in non-profit and for-profit roles. He found CHCRC to be a landing point because he holds the conviction that coordinated clinical research infrastructure is the most promising and rewarding path to supporting, funding, and promoting the CHCs which form America's Medical-Social Safety Net--Today and Tomorrow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will this take time or staff away from our core clinical operations?
How much does this cost our health center?
How are clinical trials selected for our site?
Is it safe for our patients to participate in these trials?
What’s the benefit beyond revenue?