Pioneering IT Infrastructure

A central objective of the flagship PRO-sCAP initiative is the detailed recording of all clinical and laboratory data from study participants, along with the results of analyses performed on their biological samples. This data collection forms a cornerstone for optimal analysis within the PRO-sCAP initiative and for future research questions that may arise.

To achieve this goal, it was essential to integrate clinical and analytical data in a way that allows easy access and retrieval within a secure environment. For these needs, an IT infrastructure was established consisting of three components: the reliable REDCap platform, the comprehensive PRO-sCap database, and the Biobank Management System (BMG) for workflow control and biological sample management, all developed entirely by the University of Crete team.

REDCap is a user-friendly and customizable platform used by physicians and nurses to collect patients’ clinical data.

The PRO-sCap database automatically incorporates clinical data from REDCap, combining operational and analytical data into a unified system that enables fast retrieval of information for one or multiple samples or patients.

Finally, the development of a computational system for biobank management provides a complete overview of each sample’s location within freezers and connects this information to the corresponding data.

Overall, the IT infrastructure developed represents an innovative solution to the challenges of collecting, organizing, and managing clinical study data, and lays the foundation for expanding the study to patients in Greece and abroad.