Collaborative Clinical Research

The Collaborative Clinical Research group investigates and develops innovative methods and tools for cross-institutional clinical research. Particular challenges are the efficient networking of distributed data sources and the provision of research data in compliance with data protection regulations.

In addition to the classic electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs), biomaterial samples, medical images and information provided by the study participants,  so-called Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO), are playing an increasing role in clinical research. These can be questionnaires entered in  an app, but also mobile sensor technology such as wearables or fitness trackers. The increasing diversity of data sources places high demands on the interoperability of the various IT systems used to manage this data.

Furthermore, the preservation of informational self-determination, especially the guarantee that study participants cannot be re-identified, becomes more complex with increasing data sources that can be assigned to a person. New methods of secure data aggregation and processing are therefore required.

Research associations and networks

Of particular interest are research consortia that want to make their data permanently available for research. Here, sustainable research infrastructures are to be developed that can continue to be operated and expanded even after project funding ends. The Collaborative Clinical Research grroup has  long-term experience in the design, development and evaluation of research infrastructures for patient registers and clinical research networks. The department of Medical Informatics is partner in various projects funded by the EU, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG). The main focus of the cooperation with clinical researchers* is on the key research areas of the UMG, but is not limited to these.

Subject areas

• For the Germany-wide Corona research, we develop and operate the infrastructure for data management as well as the publication process for the studies of the National Pandemic Cohort Network (NAPKON). We are also involved in the COVID-19 Research Network Lower Saxony (COFONI) in the area of data infrastructure development.
• Cardiology: In the field of cardiology, we develop and operate data management for the German Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases (DZHK) and the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects (KNAHF). There is close cooperation with the Heart Centre Göttingen and the SFB 1002 (Modulatory Units in Heart Failure).
• Neurology: In the field of neurology, we have developed the data management for the Dementia Competence Network and the Clinical Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS). In the European Register for Multiple Sclerosis (EUReMS) we have investigated methods and data models to harmonise the various national registers. We are core partner of the Multiple Sclerosis Data Alliance (MSDA).
• Psychiatry: We work closely with colleagues in psychiatry, including in the Research Network for Mental Illness and the Research Network on Bipolar Disorders (BipoLife). In close cooperation with the Study Centre and the Institute for Medical Statistics, we aim to support UMG researchers with information technology methods in the best possible way .

Biometrics, data management and informatics in clinical studies

The joint working group of the Institute for Medical Informatics with the Study Center and the Institute for Medical Statistics was established as a central contact point for all questions concerning the conduct of clinical studies at the UMG, in order to make it easier for researchers to plan and conduct clinical studies at the UMG.

Further information can be found here.