Rockville, Maryland

Velocity Clinical Research, Rockville

Velocity's Internal Medicine research site in Rockville partners with Rockville Internal Medicine Group (RIMG) to conduct clinical trials for a broad range of investigational treatments, including vaccines and medicines developed to treat migraines, diabetes, acne, depression, high cholesterol, and other conditions. Founded in 1952, RIMG began conducting clinical trials with Meridian Clinical Research in 2018, before being acquired by Velocity in 2022.

Located just off of I-270, the site is easily accessible to thousands of patients in the Potomac and Rockville areas, including those established with the practice and diverse populations. All trials conducted at the site are performed in accordance with ICH and FDA guidelines, and in compliance with GCP. The Rockville team is committed to being a resource for study participants, to providing the highest quality of patient care with compassion and kindness, and to advancing medicine through research.

Velocity Clinical Research, Rockville
1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 214, Rockville, MD 20854

Phone: (240) 698-2800

Find a Clinical Trial in Rockville
Visit VelocityClinicalTrials.com or follow us on Facebook for study updates and more.

Portrait Of Medical Team Standing Outside Hospital

Our Vision

Improve lives by making clinical research accessible to all.

Our Mission

Improve the clinical research process to accelerate the delivery of new therapies and provide exceptional care to our community.

Our experienced research team in Rockville

The Velocity Rockville team of physician investigators and clinical research professionals are experienced clinical researchers. All physicians are board certified in their specialty area(s) and all research staff is trained in clinical research regulations, including GCP and HIPAA. Training records and certifications are maintained. Our clinical team is dedicated to conducting quality research in a professional and caring environment and strives on collecting quality data.

  • Ira Berger, MD

    Principal Investigator
    Ira Berger, MD joined RIMG in 1993. He specializes in asthma, chronic cough, and COPD. Dr. Berger has been listed as a Washingtonian Top Doctor every year since 2005 and a Top Doctor in the Washington Consumers Checkbook every year since 2007. Board certified in Internal Medicine, he graduated from Tufts University in Medford, MA with a Bachelor of Science degree and from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, NY with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Berger completed an internal medicine residency at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, as well as an internal medicine fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He currently serves as a Clinical Instructor at Georgetown University. Dr. Berger also served as a Clinical Instructor at George Washington University from 2005-2013. He is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a member of the American College of Physicians.

  • S. Grace Woo, MD

    Principal Investigator
    S. Grace Woo, MD specializes in gastroenterology and internal medicine and works closely with her patients to help them achieve optimal health. Dr. Woo speaks English, Spanish, and Korean. Board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Woo also graduated from George Washington University in Washington, DC with a Master in Public Health degree. She completed an internal medicine internship at State University of New York in Stony Brook, NY, an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, and a gastroenterology fellowship at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC.

  • Belen Tesfaye, MD

    Principal Investigator
    Belen Tesfaye, MD specializes in gastroenterology and internal medicine. She speaks English and Amharic, which is the official language in Ethiopia. Board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Tesfaye graduated from Jimma University in Jimma, Ethiopia with a Bachelor of Medicine degree and a Bachelor of Surgery degree. She completed an internal medicine internship at Black Lion University Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, an internal medicine residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC, and a gastroenterology internship at Howard University Hospital. Dr. Tesfaye is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American College of Physicians, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

  • Shishir Khetan, MD

    Principal Investigator
    Shishir Khetan, MD joined RIMG in 2004. He specializes in diabetes, exercise stress testing, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and preventative health. He is listed as a Consumer Checkbook Top Doctor. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Khetan graduated from University of Maryland in College Park, MD with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the University of West Indies Faculty of Medicine in Kingston, Jamaica with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed an internal medicine internship at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York, NY, and an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, NY where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Khetan is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.

  • Asefa Mekonnen, MD, FCCP, FAASM

    Principal Investigator
    Asefa Mekonnen, MD, FCCP, FAASM is passionate about Sleep Medicine and working closely with his patients across the Rockville area to help them achieve their optimal health. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine, Dr. Mekonnen graduated from Addis Ababa University Faculty of Medicine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed an internal medicine internship and residency at University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, IL and a sleep medicine fellowship at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Dr. Mekonnen is a member of the American College of Physicians (ACP).

  • Rahul Patel, MD

    Principal Investigator
    Rahul Patel, MD joined RIMG after serving as a Johns Hopkins Community Physician in Maryland. In addition to general internal medicine, his clinical interests include diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Patel graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies with a Doctor of Medicine degree, and from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He completed an internal medicine residency at Elmhurst Hospital Center – Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Elmhurst, NY and is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Rockville facility features

The Velocity Clinical Research, Rockville facility is designed for the ease and comfort of study participants and to allow optimal efficiencies in performing clinical trials. Features at this site include:

  • Private examination/consultation rooms
  • Comfortable patient reception areas
  • Facilities for extended-stay pharmacokinetic studies
  • Parking
  • Nursing station
  • Secure monitoring rooms or workstations with phone & high-speed internet access
  • Multiple individual & secure workstations for research staff
  • Regulatory document processing area
  • Electronic data capture (EDC) capabilities
  • Secure record storage
  • CLIA certified research laboratory or clinical laboratory with CLIA waiver
  • Ambient and refrigerated centrifuge
  • Secured & temperature controlled investigational product storage with pharmaceutical refrigerator & freezer
  • Freezers equipped for laboratory specimens at -20 & -70 degrees Celsius
  • Backup generator/power source in the event of site power loss
  • Standard medical equipment, including ECG and Holter machines, digital and analog scales
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clinical research site team
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Portrait Of Smiling Female Doctor Wearing White Coat With Stethoscope Sitting Behind Desk In Office
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Quality. Continuity. Velocity.