Whatever kind of researchers they were when they arrived, those who attended the CCTS Forum last Wed. April 6th left with the tools and techniques required to say “I’m a translational researcher!” The talks, which were presented by UAB Informatics Institute Director and CCTS Co-Director Dr. James J. Cimino, CCTS Informatics Co-Directors James Willig and Geoff Gordon as well as Assistant Informatics Director Matthew Wyatt, described informatics resources that currently exist as well as some that are on the horizon and discussed strategies for using them to empower clinical research and trials. This included estimating a potential cohort or finding subjects for a study using i2B2 and the Enterprise Data Warehouse; setting up a clinical trial or enrolling subjects (OnCore functionality that is soon to be expanded across campus, and PowerTrials, due to be integrated with clinical trials as of May); capturing trial data and Patient Reported Outcomes (IMPACT, OnCore, REDCap, PRO); pulling data from one’s own trial (coming soon via i2b2 and the Enterprise Data Warehouse); and multi-site data i2b2 queries (Southeast SHRINE Network or the pharma-driven TriNetX). Presenters walked the audience through examples of the PRO system, a web-based platform to capture patient reported outcomes in care settings or at home. They also encouraged investigators to explore i2b2, a self-service tool available to UAB researchers now, which can provide access to de-identified data that are exempt from IRB review.

Learn how you can become a translational researcher by watching the Forum video, available at the CCTS YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5vOAEIhwfw.