[QualiPRO: online database to facilitate study participation for investigators, study sites and coordinating centers].

Abstract

Academic non-commercial trials are of substantial relevance for both patient care and progress in clinical research. Since the 12th amendment of the German drug law, applications for the initiation of clinical trials at the ethical review boards are much more cost- and time-intensive, particularly for multicenter therapy optimization trials (TOS). To activate a trial, for, e.g., 51 ethical review boards, current curricula vitae (CVs) and certificates on good clinical practice (GCP) and regulations have to be provided for all investigators. After the new amendment of the German drug law in 2012, the process remains complex while the responsibility of the team eligibility has now been transferred to the main investigator at the study site. Therefore, the online database 'QualiPRO' was developed, free of charge and widely accessible for the investigators, their clinical trial units and the coordinating centers of the TOS. Its features ease the process to generate and provide data on the clinical trial activities of any investigator and team member. The database content and architecture follows ethical review board recommendations and the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH). After registration of the unit and membership of the team, study staff' members are able to enter and edit data and to print a 'trial' CV. CVs, GCP certificates, licences to practice medicine and more can be uploaded, and, after consent of the investigators, are available to the coordinating centers of TOS. In addition, QualiPRO is an instrument for directors of hospital departments or group leaders to efficiently collect and locally display data on their study activities and on the training status of their staff.