UC: Bring Back our Clinical Research Coordinators

On May 29, 2025, UC Davis laid off all clinical research coordinators (CRCs) working on the Trauma research study.

CRCs are the trained professionals who help run clinical trials and research protocols—so patients can access cutting-edge care after life-altering events like car crashes and shootings. Trauma is the leading cause of death for people under forty-four years old. When CRCs are removed, patients lose access to research-driven treatments, and UC loses the staff necessary to maintain these studies.

As a Level One Trauma Center, UC Davis is legally required to maintain a research program that studies trauma from prevention through treatment. Laying off the Trauma CRCs undermines that obligation. UC Davis is also the only Level One Trauma Center north of San Francisco—so any loss of this designation would harm patient care across Northern California.

UPTE members have raised urgent concerns about both patient care and workers’ rights, including a pattern of retaliation against a leading CRC union advocate, Nico Vincent, and coworkers. Reported actions include:

• Denying union business leave to Nico Vincent.

• Ignoring seniority protections during layoffs.

• Refusing transfers instead of layoffs, a practice the university has acted on quickly in the past.

These actions chill protected union activity and violate the spirit—if not the letter—of our contract.

• Reinstate all Trauma Division CRCs in accordance with our union contract.

• Halt all retaliation against union leaders and members, and grant Nico Vincent’s union business leave in full.

• Stay informed and share this page with colleagues and community partners.

• Talk with your coworkers about how research staffing affects patient outcomes.

• Support UPTE’s demands for safe staffing, patient access to research, and respect for workers’ rights.