• Developing and improving clinical research methods by means of virtual processes and innovative technologies

• Developing (inter)nationally accepted best practices for clinical research

• Increasing the involvement of patients and the public in academic clinical research

• Fostering dialogue with national authorities

• Serving as a competent partner for investigator-initiated clinical trials in a multicentre and multinational setting

Developing and improving clinical research methods by means of virtual processes and innovative technologies

We provide clinical research groups with methodological support that is based on the latest practices and technology. When offering support, we take into account innovative research designs and emerging technologies, for example technology that makes it possible to integrate data from various sources (e.g. routine data, cohort data, and registry data) into prospective trials. In addition, we work with national and international partners to develop new applications and web-based solutions that simplify the clinical research process.
 

Developing (inter)nationally accepted best practices for clinical research

We align international best practices with Switzerland’s Human Research Act and turn them into tools and resources for clinical research projects. When adapting existing best practice tools so they meet the specific requirements of observational clinical research, research with data and biological samples, and diverse large cohorts and registries, we take into consideration the activities of various national research infrastructures and of international experts and stakeholders.
 

Increasing the involvement of patients and the public in academic clinical research

We coordinate with existing patient and public involvement (PPI) initiatives in order to reduce overlapping activities and take advantage of synergies. Together with other national stakeholders and patient initiatives, we advocate for a national PPI strategy that brings patients and the public into the academic clinical research process as partners.
 

Fostering dialogue with national authorities

We facilitate dialogue with national authorities and take an active role in shaping collaboration with representatives from ethics committees, regulatory authorities, and health authorities. We advocate for lean, research-friendly, and efficient regulatory processes that both reduce the bureaucratic burden on the research community and uphold quality and patient safety standards that comply with the law.
 

Serving as a competent partner for investigator-initiated clinical trials in a multicentre and multinational setting

We continue to strengthen our role as a scientific partner that helps turn research ideas into productive research questions and projects. We advise clinical researchers from all disciplines on how to apply sound, internationally accepted research methods to all aspects of their research projects. Moreover, we provide support on the organisational and feasibility aspects of projects, for example on study recruitment or measures that help ensure a research project progresses in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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• Educating clinical research professionals

• Supporting the next generation

Educating clinical research professionals

We continually update our existing training courses and develop new course formats and content. Our courses keep clinical research professionals up to date on emerging topics and regulatory developments, and they are designed to promote an interdisciplinary approach to research.
 

Supporting the next generation

We collaborate with other training providers in the area of academic clinical research and organise our training to complement theirs. This collaboration enables us to offer clinical researchers and research professionals a comprehensive training and career portfolio, which is essential for creating high-performing clinical research teams.

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• Promoting dialogue and knowledge transfer

• Investing in professional and comprehensive stakeholder management

• Monitoring our performance and impact

Promoting dialogue and knowledge transfer

We take into account national and international practices when proposing and implementing processes, for example how to best inform patients about the intended reuse of data and biological samples for research purposes. We also play an active role in developing and implementing local and national data governance and data access policies. These policies are in place to ensure that sensitive data are collected, used, and shared in accordance with the current ethical and legal frameworks.
 

Investing in professional and comprehensive stakeholder management

We coordinate our activities with other clinical research infrastructures and stakeholders in Switzerland. Our activities are aligned with the goals presented in the publication White Paper: Clinical Research. In addition, we aim to partner more systematically with the pharmaceutical industry, which is a key player in clinical research. Our commitment to remaining in dialogue and coordinating with other stakeholders allows us to avoid overlapping activities, benefit from synergies, and speak with one voice.

Monitoring our performance and impact

We are in the process of developing and implementing a concept for quality-based performance monitoring that is aligned with international best practices and includes quantifiable measurement criteria. The purpose of this monitoring concept is to evaluate the return on investment for our mandate, mission, and strategy, to inform funding decisions for research infrastructures, and to indicate when we may need to adjust our activities.

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