Annual Report 2013

OPEN’s goal and vision OPEN’s goal is to facilitate clinical research at OUH and thus contribute to the realization of OUH’s research strategy. To do so, OPEN offers to help researchers to initiate clinical trials by making it easier to collect and store biological samples and clinical data. Moreover OPEN facilitates register-based research on clinical cohorts. OPEN’s vision is to invite other research groups to join projects in the initial phase and in this way enrich the cohort by addressing additional scientific questions. OPEN also wishes to add value to existing the research projects by facilitating register- based follow-up studies based on the data already available in OPEN’s bio- and databank

OUH’s research strategy 2012-2017 The continuation of OPEN is part of OUH’s new research strategy where facilities to support clinical research is strengthened. Steps should be taken in order to increase the knowledge of OPEN’s facilities. Foreign scientists must be sought affiliated with OPEN. Finally, OPEN’s goal is to collaborate with and support even more research projects in the Region of Southern for the benefit of the researchers, OUH, the region and of course the patients who will benefit from the new knowledge generated by these research projects.

Fulfilment of new goals OPEN is continuously working to fulfil OUH’s strategic goals for the unit. In 2013 this led to the announcement of OPEN support for establishing of biobanks for future research. Support may be applied for 50 % of the costs related to establishing up to DKK 100,000. The announcement was made public through NEWS from Institute of Clinical Research and the Intranet at OUH and the regional hospitals. The constant accommodation of new OPEN projects also means that OPEN develops new facilities for the researchers as new support needs are revealed. For example, OPEN has opened up for the use of the international online system REDCap for project management. This online tool has been taken into use in relation to the establishment of the psychiatry project RESCueH which is affiliated to OPEN. In REDCap clinical data and questionnaire data may be entered and stored. The system gives a good overview of the overall project as well as the single individual in the project, both in its general set up but also with its possibilities of time management and calendar functionalities. In relation to the use of REDCap, OPEN helps setting up the project, administrates user rights and helps with data management in general.

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OPEN’s facilities and their utilization by the end of 2013

Within the year of 2013 OPEN has admitted 24 new projects and terminated one.

This means that at the end of 2013 OPEN had 50 active projects.

The facilities used vary from project to project:

• OPEN Projects - Biobank 23 projects use OPEN’s biobank and have over 345,000 tubes available at the end of 2013, the tubes are stored at -80oC and provided to the project on request from the project owner. The projects cover the costs for handling and utensils, while storage and delivery is free of charge. Apart from the handling of research biobanks allocated to specific projects, OPEN also handles and stores biobanks for future research. To promote the establishment of this type of biobanks OPEN commenced announcement of economic support. In 2013 OPEN granted DKK 306,500 divided into 5 separate grants.

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• OPEN Projects – Database All projects are registered in the database. Seven projects use the facilities for electronic input of clinical data by using SurveyXact and five use EpiData. Furthermore 2013 was the year where the online system REDCap was employed for the five RESCueH psychiatry projects. • Register surveys – tools and guidance A lot has happened in OPEN within the area of register surveys. In 2012 seven new projects was established. During 2013 more projects which intend to work with register data have been included in OPEN. This means that OPEN in 2013 had a total of 21 affiliated projects, which either used OPENs register facilities or plan to do so when the data collection process is terminated. OPEN continues to offer advice and guidance for these register surveys. • OPEN Randomize - internet-based randomization tool At the end of 2013 OPEN Randomize was used by a total of nine projects. OPEN Randomize allows online block randomization and stratification. • PR – visualization of projects All OPEN projects are announced at OPEN’s website; here you can find information of the type of cohort and types of biological and clinical material. To increase exposure of the projects and to visualize the collaboration potential, OPEN in 2013 started a process of delivering project-specific data directly onto OPEN’s website. These data comprise number of individuals and amount and type of biological material available in the projects. OPEN also participates in events in order to extend the knowledge of the facilities and the possibilities for collaboration with OPEN or OPEN projects. In 2013 OPEN attended Open Research Day, Research Dating Conference and PhD intro courses. • OPEN Advice - consultations for researchers OPEN Advice offers consultation in all aspects of the research process especially in relation to epidemiological methods, public records or data from OPEN. The OPEN Advice service has only been used a few times in 2013 either because the facility hasn’t been promoted well enough or because there is no need. OPEN Advice will therefore be reviewed in the coming year.

Read more of OPEN’s projects and facilities at: www.sdu.dk/ki/open

OPEN’s network and range OPEN’s projects have activities at all the hospital units in the Region of Southern Denmark (OUH, Hospital Lillebaelt, Hospital of South West and Hospital of Southern Jutland) and in the Psychiatric unit. A range of projects also collaborate with other hospitals outside the Region of Southern Denmark, thus OPEN’s projects are represented in all regions in Denmark (, The North Denmark Region, Region and The Capital Region of Denmark). Additional collaborations have been established with institutes and research units at the University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in . Other research partners are SSI, , Lillebaelt Academy of Professional Higher Education and GP’s. Finally some of OPEN’s projects are formed as international collaborations represented in 15 European countries and 2 nations outside Europe (USA (Arizona, South Carolina, New York and New Mexico) and Australia).

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OPEN’s publications and activities

All publications related to OPEN can be found via OPEN’s website at www.sdu.dk/ki/open under Research Publications; both publications from OPEN’s Projects and from OPEN’s staff are listed there. The list of OPEN’s staffs’ participation in congresses, seminars, teaching etc. can be found under Staff in the menu.

OPEN’s staff 2013 Technical and administrative personnel • Professor, Head of unit 9.25 hours per week • Research Secretary 22 hours per week • Data managers 4 x 37 hours per week Scientific personnel • Professors 4 x part-time equal to 37 hours per week • Associate Professor 9.25 hours per week • Research Assistant 37 hours per week • Ph.D.-students, external funding 4 x 37 hours per week

Thanks for a great 2013 OPEN’s management would like to thank OPEN’s staff for their great commitment, positive approach to new challenges and ability to collaborate interdisciplinary both internally and externally with partners and researchers. Also thanks to the researchers who use OPEN’s facilities and thereby contribute to the development of these, helping us to facilitate new projects with new needs. Furthermore thanks to OPEN’s collaborative partners, among these the Project Unit at Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology and the Danish Twin Registry, which both contribute with invaluable professional assistance.

Wishes for continued successful collaborations and further advancement in 2014…

Torben Barington Head of OPEN

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