About

Leading CARE

Dr. Venkatesh Nadar has been the Principal Investigator (PI) from the origins of CARE over 20 years ago. He holds board certifications for Cardiology and Internal Medicine, and actively cares for his clinical practice patients, along with his research patients. Dr. Nadar provides oversite to his team of three sub-investigators and seven research staff who have conducted over 100 studies. Dr. Nadar truly enjoys the research process as it gives his patients the ability to have extra personal care as well as providing state of the art treatments and education.

Benefits to Volunteering

Volunteering for clinical research is a personal choice, but we have highlighted the benefits below:

Personal attention from our experience staff including direct connection with our clinicians
Education on your condition and the available treatments, which our staff allow as much time as you need to ask questions and ensure you are completely comfortable
Throughout the process often physical exams, lab work, diagnostics exam and other screenings are available at no cost. We provide you with results right away if possible
All study medications are provided at no cost during study duration
Compensation for your time and travel
Open sharing of results with primary care provider whenever possible
Possible improvement to your symptoms
Your participation will help treatment advancements to others

For Sponsors

CARE is located in South Central Pennsylvania which provides it unique benefits to clinical research implementation. It is one of the fastest growing regions in Pennsylvania and maintains urban, suburban and rural communities with in a very short radius. Dr. Nadar has created many connections with local medication providers, allowing CARE to receive research referrals from over 15 providers in a multitude of specialties. CARE has prided itself on high recruitment and retention rates, often winning awards of excellence in both areas by sponsors. CARE is an independent research facility with experience in all phases of clinical research. The site has designated patient and monitoring rooms, lab equipment, and can use a central IRB. We have a fast start up time which allows for implementation of research studies within weeks of the initial contract agreements. Our site is easily accessible, by being conveniently located to major highways, Harrisburg International Airport and short travel from Philadelphia or Baltimore. There are many hotels with in a short distance of the site.

Areas of Research

Over the last 20 years we have conducted over 100 trials in the following areas:

Cardiovascular Diseases
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Endocrine Diseases
Obesity
Infectious Diseases
Vaccines
Hypertension
Multi-organ disorders
Kidney Disorders
Dyslipidemia
Vascular Diseases
Weight Loss
Normal Healthy
Electrophysiology
NASH
Orthopedics
Devices
Diagnostic Testing
Pain Management

Camp Hill Staff

From back left to bottom right - Reagan, Rachel, Alison, Megan, John, Elias, Kim, and Dipalee.

Kimberly

Kimberly graduated in 1990 from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. She started he career at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center conducting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) related research for 7 years. She was then given an opportunity to jump start a clinical research department with Dr Venkatesh K. Nadar, MD in 1999. Since then, Capital Area Research, LLC(CARE) has grown into a very reputable research clinic with highly skilled research staff. CARE has done over 100 clinical trials in a diverse number of therapeutic areas.

Megan

Megan graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences. Since 2011 she has worked at Capital Area Research as a research coordinator. She received her certification in clinical research through The Society of Clinical Research Associates in 2013, in which she is a current member. She has done clinical trials involving medications, imaging, and vaccines. Some areas of research Megan has directly worked in include cholesterol, diabetes, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation, DVT/PE, clostridium difficile, and weight loss.

Alison

Alison graduated Cum Laude from Bloomsburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in medical imaging along with a cardiovascular invasive specialty certificate. She has been working for CARE in clinical research since 2014. She received her certification in clinical research through The Society of Clinical Research Associates in 2024, in which she is a current member. She has worked in clinical trials involving both systolic and diastolic heart failure, diabetes, cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, and weight loss.

Dipalee

Dipalee Patel completed her Bachelor of Science degree with major in Microbiology from Gujarat University (India) in 2007, where she worked as Clinical Research Coordinator at CIMS Hospital for over 7 years. She joined Capital Area Research in 2015. She has been a clinical research coordinator/regulatory coordinator for Phase II, III and IV trials at Capital Area Research.

Elias

Elias graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and in 2022 with a Master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology. During his master’s program at the University of Pittsburgh he was a Graduate Student Assistant where he worked at the university and taught courses. He has worked with CARE since 2022 as a research coordinator and exercise physiologist. Research trials he has worked on include heart failure, Lipoprotein (a), weight loss, peripheral artery disease, and vaccine trials for both RSV and influenza. Along with this he conducts treadmill exercise stress tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) for the cardiology office.

Rachel

Rachel graduated from Susquehanna University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry. Since starting at CARE as a Research Assistant in 2022, she has helped in numerous clinical trials involving heart failure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, Lp(a), weight loss, and vaccines. Rachel also focuses on managing our lab and processing the bloodwork, samples, and cultures for all trials.

Regan

Regan is in the process of completing her Bachelor’s degree in medical Imaging from Bloomsburg University. She is currently completing the clinical portion of her studies through Harrisburg Area Community College. She began working with Dr. Nadar in 2023 and assists with both cardiology and research needs.

John

John completed his Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. He spent four years working in outpatient cardiology before joining the CARE team in 2023. His dual role includes working as a research coordinator on clinical trials involving high cholesterol, and atrial fibrillation along with conducting treadmill exercise stress tests for the cardiology office as an Exercise Physiologist.

Newport Staff

(Left to Right) Amy, Dr.Knouse

Dr. Knouse

Albert B. Knouse, Jr, MD, received his medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine (now Drexel) in 1988 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. From 1988–1991 he trained in family medicine at DeWitt Army Community Hospital in Fort Belvoir, VA. As a major in the US Army, Dr. Knouse continued his practice of family medicine at DeWitt where he served as teaching faculty for their family medicine residency program from 1991–1995. He then relocated to his home state of Pennsylvania and joined Newport Family Practice in Newport where he continues to proudly serve this south-central PA community. In 2004 while at Newport, Dr Knouse began his involvement with Capital Area Research and has since been involved in over thirty pharmaceutical trials.

Amy

Amy worked in the Holy Spirit Hospital Emergency Department prior to joining Capital Area Research in 2006. During her time at CARE, Amy has been an integral part of the research staff in both the Camp Hill, and Newport locations. In 2010 she received her certification as a Certified Clinical Research Professional through SoCRA. She has been directly involved in over 40 clinical trials with multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Amanda

Amanda graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology. She began working for CARE in 2008 as a research coordinator and received her certification in clinical research through The Society of Clinical Research Associates in 2013. While working at CARE, she has worked on numerous research trials involving investigational medications, medical devices, and her areas of interest are Congestive Heart Failure & Cardiac Arrhythmia.

Samantha

Samantha graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biobehavioral Health. She started with CARE as a Clinical Research Coordinator in 2023. She has worked in clinical trials involving, UTIs, Atrial fibrillation, Diabetes, Cholesterol, and Lp(a).