08 Sep Medical College of Wisconsin to automate its processes for human subject testing
MILWAUKEE—The Medical College of Wisconsin announced on Tuesday that it plans to implement extranet software from Click Commerce to automate all phases of its research concerning human subjects. Expected to launch by first quarter of 2005, the system is part of a long-range plan to fully enhance the institution’s Institutional Review Board.
This choice was made based on the growing volume of research, as the Medical College of Wisconsin has nearly 800 investigators involved in at least 1500 in-depth research studies, all of which are managed by only five IRB’s. As the amount of research continues to grow, this application was necessary for high quality and consistent review.
“With so much new data collected electronically, we’ll be able to use Click’s integrated reporting system to generate higher- level reports than were possible before,” said Maggi Cage, director of the Human Research Protection Office. “Click’s IRB Solution will not only make it easier for researchers to submit approval forms electronically, but also make it possible for our coordinators and board members to perform more comprehensive reviews quickly.”
The Medical College of Wisconsin will now use this system to create an automated website, which will employ Click’s SmartForms technology to provide researchers with extensive information via a standard web browser. The SmartForms continually ask for additional information based on the responses given, which keep users from going through questions that don’t relate to the study.
The Medical College of Wisconsin was founded in 1893 and currently employs close to 15,000 medical professionals. It is home to nine national research centers and received more than $120 million for research and training grants in fiscal year 2002-2003.
Click Commerce is a provider of extranet solutions for collaborative commerce and compliance automation, used at universities such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Michigan to cut down on paper-bound administrative processes.