HHTU News Roundup

Data team attend DISOG National Meeting

In October, members of our Data Management team attended the UKCRC Data and Information System Operation Group (DISOG) National Meeting – a valuable day dedicated to learning, collaboration, and sharing best practice across the network.

The event opened with a warm welcome from our own John Turgoose (Hull Health Trials Unit) and co-chairs. Their introduction set the tone for a productive and engaging day, followed by an overview of network-wide activities which provided useful context for the sessions ahead.

A vendor showcase offered a chance to see what products and services are available to support the important work taking place across our field, highlighting the continued innovation in data management systems.

A highlight of the morning was the panel session on WAgile working — an innovative hybrid of Waterfall and Agile methodologies designed to improve database development processes for clinical trials. The discussion generated thoughtful debate and practical ideas for how centres might adopt similar approaches in their own teams.

In the afternoon, attention turned to MHRA inspections, where colleagues from other CTUs recently inspected shared their experiences and insights. Their presentations provided valuable guidance and practical advice for teams preparing for future inspections.

Overall, the meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and reflect on the evolving landscape of data management and information systems within clinical trials. The discussions and shared experiences will undoubtedly help inform future developments across the network.

Our Senior Data Manager authors guidance

Sarah Sumper the HHTU’s Senior Data Manager has recently been a named author on the UKCRC guidance document ‘Data Cleaning and Query Management’ which is available here https://ukcrc-ctu.org.uk/is-data-management/.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on cleaning of data collected within a clinical database for clinical research and the management of queries.

Different trial units will have different approaches depending on the tools they are using and the type of data included in the trials. The processes may be manual, automated, or a combination / hybrid approach. This document incorporates recommendations based on the experience of the authors, representing thirteen UKCRC registered clinical trials units, with consideration to regulatory requirements. It is designed to be used as recommendation for good practice and as a starting point for new CTUs alongside their own specific guidance and SOPs.