Call us directly: (877)77-TRIAL or (818)788-0747

5000 Van Nuys Blvd.Suite 216, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 View Map

Meet SMRI medical staff

Research Coordination and Management personnel at Schuster Medical Research Institute (SMRI) are trained, seasoned, certified research professionals.
Research personnel perform skilled data retrieval, auditing and quality assurance to secure consistent and accurate results in accordance with GCP and within sponsor timelines.
Our staff brings excellent communication skills and extensive and varied research experiences to SMRI. Our experience, passion and teamwork are crucial to our success. All staff is trained in ICH/GCPs and maintains the highest ethical standards. Our physicians/investigators work closely with our research coordinators to create a high quality research experience for patients and sponsors alike. 

Jose Martin Itzcovich Schuster, M.D.

Medical Director

Dr. Schuster, SMRI’s president and founder, has over 25 years of combined experience in clinical research and in the fields of Neurosciences and psychiatric medicine. Most recently, Dr. Schuster has served as Principal Investigator on several clinical trials, including applications in Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias. He is also currently the Medical Director of the Sherman Oaks Partial Hospitalization Program, and an Assistant Clinical Supervisor for the Anxiety Disorder Clinic at UCLA.

Betina Rapoport B.A.

Office Administration

Betina Rapoport B. A. has a degree in Clinical Psychology from Argentina. She has over 18 years of experience in the healthcare field, in the areas of Psychology and CNS. She is a certified Psychometrician as well as Clinical Rater for Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scales, Major Depressive Disorder Scales, Schizophrenia, amongst others. She also has extensive experience in Community Outreach. Her responsibilities include Community Liaison, recruitment, screening, and selection of study participants. Her clinical duties consist of Clinical Rater and Clinical Research Coordinator.

Monica M. Brown

Certified Clinical Research Coordinator

Monica Brown has acquired over 20 years of experience in Clinical Research and over 20 years in the healthcare field. Monica brings a wealth of clinical trial experience to Schuster Medical Research Institute.
She is CCRC certified and has coordinated many studies in infectious disease and Neuroscience, most recently including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
She has extensive experience in psychometric ratings such as MADRS, HAM-A, and HAM-D. Monica also has extensive regulatory experience and acts as our regulatory compliance coordinator.  

Ellen Gursky

Office Director, Clinical Operations

Ellen Gursky is a foreign MD, who graduated from Pirogov Medical University in Vinnitsa, Ukraine. She was working on her PhD prior emigration to the United States in 1992. Ellen has 14 years of clinical experience, 12 years in research. Her therapeutic experience includes cardiovascular, rheumatology, dermatology, pain, psychiatry and CNS.
Ellen oversees all aspects of the day-to-day clinical operations, including CDA, contracts/budgets, feasibilities, patient care.

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