How vitagroup’s HIP CDR is enabling the development of a research IT platform at the ZI in Mannheim

The ZI’s new research platform will allow researchers to screen existing data based on medical criteria, submit project and research applications and gain access to the data via a process management system for the Use & Access Committee. In this way, experts from all departments will be able to access the information they need for their research. In the future, it will also be possible to share data between research institutions in different locations.

The heart of the research IT platform: vitagroup’s HIP CDR

All of this is made possible by the Clinical Data Repository of the vitagroup Health Intelligence Platform (HIP CDR). Via the CDR Bridge interoperability layer, all research-relevant data from the various IT systems at the ZI is stored centrally in the HIP CDR and transformed into an open, highly structured data format. This means that the data can be compared and analysed regardless of the system in which it was recorded.

Artificial intelligence to support research

Another plus: the availability of high-quality structured data through the HIP CDR also enables the efficient use of artificial intelligence to support clinical experts.

“We are delighted to have found a solution in vitagroup’s HIP CDR that will enable us to continue to build up the treasure trove of data that is so important for our research,” said Prof Dr Meyer-Lindenberg, Director and CEO of the ZI. “Supporting future research projects with artificial intelligence methods is also a particular focus for us. The centralised, highly structured data storage of our research IT platform will now make this possible”.

Customised surfaces support research

In addition, the ZI will develop special user interfaces. These will support researchers in their work processes when preparing research proposals, finding suitable study populations and relevant study data, and handling these in compliance with data protection regulations.

Making data available and usable

As a founding member of the Health and Life Science Alliance in the Rhine-Neckar region and a location of the new German Centre for Mental Health (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit), the ZI-Mannheim is an important medical research site. “We are very much looking forward to working with the ZI,” says Joachim Neugebauer, Vice President Clinical Care Solutions at vitagroup. “Together we will now gradually connect the data sources to our HIP CDR, making the ZI’s wealth of data available and usable for medical research.”