Director

Message from the Center Administration

James Perkins, Phd

Director, RTRN DTCC

M. Edwina Barnett, MD, PhD, MBA, CCBMI, FACP

Program Director, RTRN DTCC

In July 2007, The RTRN Data Technology Coordinating Center was established through a grant awarded by the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, to serve as the center of research tools and information technology for the RCMI Translational Research Network. The coordinating Center has been positioned to facilitate the sharing of these resources which will enhance researchers’ efforts and accelerate the path to improved health outcomes for underrepresented populations.

The DTCC provides its members with access to industry-leading clinical data management applications and collaboration tools that aid in the collection, storage, management and analysis of data from the multiple RCMI sites to support the clinical, biomedical and translational research activities of the RTRN.

Through a user-friendly web portal interface maintained by the DTCC, researchers can access these clinical and collaboration tools in a highly secure and scaleable environment.
 

Over the course of several months, we have concentrated our efforts on establishing the technological and operative infrastructure for the center. Experienced and highly-skilled professionals have been hired for key roles in the Information Security and Technology Integration division (ISTI), Program Management and Regulations division, Biostatistics division, Communications division and the Education and Training division. Currently, each division is drafting and developing operational policies and standard operating procedures outlining their roles, responsibilities and services for the corresponding area.

Hardware and software to build the DTCC collaboration tools infrastructure such as the RTRN Portal, CDMS and multi-media communications to support day to day technology operations of the staff and the RTRN community has been acquired and deployed. Physical and electronic security measures to protect the network system, tools and data are in place and operational. Systems for managing, archiving and storing communications pertinent to the operations of the network and its members have been established.

Evaluation of regulatory and governmental compliance issues has been initiated as well as implementation of “good clinical practices” and other industry-required clinical training and certification efforts for the DTCC staff. Training to use the collaboration tools has commenced; introducing the RTRN community and members of the RTRN Pilot study team to the technology and resources available to enhance their research endeavors. Continued support is being offered to the RTRN community through the coordination and scheduling of webinars, video conferencing and events to facilitate the collaborative working relationships amongst the researchers in the network.

Most importantly, we have established a leadership role in the coordination of the RTRN Pilot Study which includes assisting with the formation of the Pilot Study teams; administrating communications between the RCMI sites participating in the Pilot Study, and facilitating the development of the electronic Case Report Forms (eCRFs) that will be used to capture data throughout the Pilot and other studies. Charged with achieving significant milestones, the DTCC has formed solid strategic alliances with stellar clinical data management, research and technology organizations which are providing valuable direction and resources to further advance the efforts of the center. Since partnering with Duke Clinical Research Institutes (DCRI), a renowned institution with a 15-year history of successful clinical research service, DTCC is identifying effective operational strategies and streamlining the margin of error typically associated with start-up organizations.

Working with technological leaders such as Database Management Consulting, Inc. - certified ORACLE software programmers, and Venture Technologies, the DTCC has built a highly-advanced, secure and scaleable technological infrastructure to support the work of the 18 RCMI sites and the more than 400 researchers being funded through NIH grants.