18 May 2020 – European repository of clinical research metadata on COVID-19

Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Health, Research and Development
Intervention Categories: Research and development; International relations
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science and Innovation

Overview: Spain takes part in European repository of clinical research metadata on COVID-19
The Spanish Clinical Trials Platform, financed by the Carlos III Health Institute, forms part of this initiative to share methodological information to support the development of clinical studies related to the new coronavirus. The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires that researchers join forces around the world to improve diagnoses, find treatments and develop a vaccine, and hence sharing research data is a critical step in this endeavour at global cooperation. In this context, ECRIN has decided to set up a COVID-19 working group with its national partners and launch this repository of metadata, which contains information on the disease, including information as a result of studies that are being carried on at clinical centres and that may be useful for the launch and design of new trials.
The repository of clinical research metadata will serve to see the existing clinical studies and related elements, such as protocols, information sheets and consent forms, data management plans, statistical analysis plans, case report forms, results, publications and descriptive metadata, among others, All of these are important actions and can serve for the design and implementation of the studies.
The repository is available free of charge for all scientific researchers that work on clinical research and is particularly useful for those that are working on COVID-19. The system is periodically updated through the gathering of data from the most important information sources around the world, from New Zealand to the Netherlands, and from Japan to the Lebanon. The current repository of clinical research metadata is the first beta version of the platform; ECRIN is updating the content of the platform regularly while working on new versions.

Full details here: https://www.ecrin.org/clinical-research-metadata-repository

Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Advice of EXTERNAL expert advisor or advisory committee
Source of Evidence or Justification: World Health Organisation, National – academic, National – government, International – academic, International – government, European Union