RESEARCH SUPPORT. If you have a clinical study underway, one helpful idea is to consult Gothia Forum. All researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital can receive help with everything from complicated ethical review applications to clinical data monitoring. This help is never more expensive than the at cost price and some support is available for free.
After nearly five years as head of department at Gothia Forum, Alessio Degl’innocenti is moving on to a new job. The search is underway for his successor (advertisement in Swedish).
Alessio Degl’innocenti concludes that it has been an incredibly educational time for him, while Gothia Forum has grown and evolved in many ways.
“One important development is the introduction of REDCap, which is an IT system that helps researchers with data collection. REDCap improves the quality of research while making it less expensive for the researcher. Introducing the system was a huge process, and we now have two IT experts who can help researchers in the event of problems.”
For the past few years, Gothia Forum has also offered expertise in precision medicine through the ATMP Center at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
No one is turned away
Gothia Forum has around 60 employees, all of whom are experts in different research areas. Several of them hold PhDs, and their areas of expertise vary. Here, you can find high-quality help at a low cost. Some services are free for researchers, such as legal consultation and the grants office (help applying for research funding), while some help is charged at the at cost price (for example, project management).
“Everyone who wants to plan or has a clinical study underway and needs our help is welcome to contact us, even if there may be a wait. We are like an accordion and hire more employees for projects when necessary to meet demand,” explains Degl’innocenti.
Support throughout the process
Gothia Forum’s experts can help you throughout your clinical study, through individual support or with project management throughout the process. Services include help with applications to the Swedish Ethical Review Authority and Medical Products Agency, data management, documentation, medical consultation for translational studies and support for register studies. Gothia Forum can also support recruitment of patients or subjects for your study and help register studies in ClinicalTrials.gov.
Gothia Forum’s staff also offer monitoring, which includes reviewing compliance with protocols, laws and regulations and that the study’s data is correctly registered. Monitoring is legally required for studies of medical devices or pharmaceuticals; in other cases, it is voluntary.
“We have employed several monitors. Sometimes we can monitor digitally, but in most cases we have to go to the clinic and review the study documentation on-site,” says Degl’innocenti.
Researcher in forensic psychiatry
Alessio Degl’innocenti is a certified psychologist with a master’s of public administration from the School of Economics. He has experience in the pharmaceutical industry and leadership and will now serve as head of Region Västra Götaland’s operations in hospital pharmacies and assistive devices. He is an associate professor and will maintain his connection to Sahlgrenska Academy, where his position as adjunct senior lecturer gives him the opportunity to conduct research in forensic psychiatry. Among other things, he has contributed to publications on physical activity in forensic psychiatric care, sustainable person-centered care in forensic psychiatry, and register research.
MORE ABOUT GOTHIA FORUM:
- Gothia Forum was established in 2009. Its mission is to strengthen clinical research in Västra Götaland and to serve as a meeting place and resource for researchers and for both small and large companies. Find out more at www.gothiaforum.com.
- Gothia Forum is also a regional node for the western healthcare region within Clinical Studies Sweden, which is a collaboration between Sweden’s cooperative regions, with support from the Swedish Research Council. Find out more at www.kliniskastudier.se.
- Gothia Forum is funded through revenue from companies that use its services and internal users, as well as through Regionutvecklingsnämnden (Regional Development Committee), Hälso- och sjukvårdsstyrelsen (Board of Health and Medical Care), and various funds.
BY: ELIN LINDSTRÖM
