Vision
We aim to enable health research teams worldwide to devise and conduct studies that are easier to run, less expensive, of higher quality, and more rapid, replicable, shareable, inclusive, and impactful.
Mission
To be an international leader in identifying and solving generalizable problems where informatics tools and services can be adopted or built to assist in formulating, operationalizing, and conducting clinical and translational research.
Strategy
Introduction
Vanderbilt is well known for its strength in clinical and translational research informatics, particularly in the development and dissemination of clinical research tools, pharmacogenomics, and research support services. Many of its research informatics initiatives are linked to or supported by the U.S. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program.
Our projects and collaborations have four primary goals:
- Maximally support the research enterprise;
- Enhance Vanderbilt’s reputation as a leader in translational research and biomedical informatics by sharing software platforms and informatics services;
- Serve as a teaching epicenter for clinical research informatics; and
- Create a launchpad for junior faculty wishing to build careers in research informatics.
Vanderbilt faculty are involved with groundbreaking informatics activities for major research initiatives, such as the CTSA Program, NCATS Trial Innovation Network, NCATS Recruitment Innovation Center, All of Us program, eMERGE Network, IeDEA Consortium, and the PCORI Mid-South CDRN.
Examples of Vanderbilt Research Informatics Projects
REDCap
REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. Although REDCap can be used to collect virtually any type of data, it is specifically designed to support online or offline data capture for research studies and operations. The REDCap Consortium, a global support network of collaborators, comprises thousands of active institutional partners in over one hundred countries who utilize and support REDCap in various ways. REDCap is developed and distributed by Vanderbilt University. The software is available with licensing at no cost to non-profit and government partners. The REDCap ecosystem is constantly growing. Recent additions include MyCap, a patient-centered Mobile App for patient-reported outcome data collection, and FHIR-based modules for automated data extraction and interoperability with electronic health record systems.
Explore REDCap at https://projectredcap.org/
ResearchMatch
ResearchMatch is a recruitment tool to connect volunteers with researchers who are searching for appropriate participants for their research studies. ResearchMatch.org is an example of our ability to conceive, develop, implement, and disseminate value-added software to the larger research community in partnership with other academic organizations.
Learn more at https://www.researchmatch.org/
IRB Reliance Exchange (IREx)
IRB Reliance Exchange (IREx) is a freely available, web-based portal that supports single IRB (sIRB) review documentation and communication for multi-center clinical trials.
Learn more at https://www.irbexchange.org/
Trials Today
Finding an appropriate research trial for individuals can be challenging. Trials Today makes it easier for individuals seeking trial information for themselves or others to find and review options from recruiting trials across the country.
Learn more at https://www.trialstoday.org and https://www.projecttrialstoday.org (customizable)
Last Update- 10/31/2018