Research Roadmap

A study requires not only preparation and personal time, but also the commitment of (colleagues within) your own department, and possibly from other departments as well. Do all parties involved have the necessary staff, time, skills and training/education?

Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for identifying and securing facilities and resources needed to conduct their research programs and studies.

In some cases, a study must be conducted at more than one site. An important consideration is how many participating centers are needed to include the target number of participants within the scheduled timeline. Potential centers/investigators are contacted through exploratory conversations. The purpose of these conversations is to assess whether a potential participating center is both able and willing to participate successfully.

As the PI, it is important to have a clear idea of the information needed from each center. This may include:

• The estimated number of participants that may be included (note that this number is often estimated overly optimistic!);
• Available manpower;
• Access to required equipment and/or facilities.

If the center is willing and able to participate, it is important to identify the local contact person who is familiar with the local procedures. This helps in further communication and avoids delays or lack of responses.

Tips:

• Review and confirm all sponsor requirements related to identification and availability of facilities and resources prior to submitting the final application;
• Specialized training or approvals may be required to use certain facilities or resources. Identify policies, procedures, training or access requirements. Ensure staff is eligible and qualified for necessary approvals;
• If your study relies on another researchers' space or expertise, be sure to have their support in writing and include it in your documentation. Sponsors may have specific requirements for documenting expertise and commitment - clarify these at an early stage to prevent delays later in the process.
• Here you can find an overview of research supporting departments in Amsterdam UMC.