Special Emphasis: NC State ASSIST & UNC Translational Research Collaborations

NC TraCS and the Center for Advanced Self-powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at NC State are seeking highly innovative proposals that address high-impact unmet clinical needs using NC State's ASSIST-developed technologies. The goal of this Special Emphasis is to match UNC providers' expertise of clinical challenges and unmet needs, with engineering faculty at ASSIST seeking to develop novel technology applications.

View the RFA

ASSIST, along with NC TraCS, is extending an open invitation to UNC faculty, NC TraCS partners, and UNC Health providers to join a virtual Technology Showcase hosted by ASSIST.

The showcase will be held on Monday May 3, 2021, 12 - 2 p.m. During the first hour, participants will hear about ASSIST tech, and during the second hour, participants will be invited to breakout discussions to explore collaboration ideas. Up to 10 ASSIST-sponsored technologies and recording will be made available for those not able to attend.

Technology examples include, but are not limited to:

• Self-powered wearable biomonitoring devices (e.g., cardiac, respiratory, activity level)
• Sensors integrated into textiles/apparel
• Implantable diagnostics
• Non-invasive biomarker monitoring (e.g., skin patch for sweat or interstitial fluid)
• Gaseous/volatile sensor platforms

For additional information on ASSIST, visit assistcenter.org.

Any teams preparing to submit, either as part of existing collaborations or newly formed, may contact the following team members for information:

UNC | Andrew Kant (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Associate Director, FastTraCS
NC State | Adam Curry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Innovation Ecosystem Director

Note: Participation in the virtual Technology Showcase is strongly encouraged, though not a requirement to submit.

Join a live training session for the N3C Data Enclave. Users of all types can learn how to navigate the N3C, utilize the Enclave and resources it provides, and learn how to better achieve their analytical goals. This orientation is split into 2 sessions – Session A and Session B. These orientations are ongoing and will alternate week by week. Session A is recommended before attending Session B

Session B is for analysts, statisticians, data scientists, or anyone who wants to gain a broader understanding of the tools needed to work with the data.

Topics include:

• Focus on technical aspects of working with data in the secure N3C Enclave, including use of OMOP concept sets and N3C-specific tooling, such as the Concept Set Browser.
• Introduce commonly used analysis tools, such as Contour and Code Workbooks and corresponding workflows for simple analyses.
• Introduce the Enclave Knowledge Store, a mechanism for sharing and using community-developed code and data across projects.

Note: This orientation is held alternating Tuesdays | 8-9:30am PT/11am-12:30pm ET

Register

The UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) has announced a large enhancement in IRBIS expected to go live the evening of May 6, 2021. This update is based on feedback from the research community and will allow for a personnel modification to be processed at the same time and be completed independently of other modifications that may be in the system.

Key Enhancements:

1. Personnel modification can be completed quickly in parallel with other modifications (e.g., protocol updates, reconsent, updated activities).
2. Multiple personnel modifications can be completed while other modifications are in progress.
3. Users no longer need to "write out/explain personnel changes" in the project summary, as a "track changes" feature has been implemented.

Join the zoom session on May 4, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to learn more. All are welcome and encouraged to attend—especially if you are managing personnel in IRBIS. The session will be recorded and made available afterward. The OHRE will also publish instructions similar to other releases that will be available May 7, 2021.

Please note that if you have a submission "pending" (includes in draft, submitted to the IRB, under review, etc.) in the system when the update goes "live", your study will not be converted to the new personnel submission enhancement until the submission is complete. All other studies will be switched when the update goes live. This process will be automatic and specific requests to be "switched" to the new capabilities will not need to be made.

Check back for zoom link.

This online training session will provide an introduction to qualitative research methods. Topics covered will include differences between quantitative and qualitative research, qualitative research methodologies, strategies for qualitative data collection, and methods of qualitative data analysis.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences conducting qualitative research.

Presenter
MaryBeth Grewe, MPH, Qualitative Research Specialist
NC TraCS Institute

Register

Online Recruitment in the Era of COVID-19: Pitfalls and Progress

This NIH Collaboratory Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds features Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, FACEP.

Presenter
Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, FACEP
Director, Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health
Warren Alpert Endowed Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Brown University
Associate Dean of Strategy and Innovation, School of Public Health, Brown University
Chief Research Officer, AFFIRM
Co-founder, GetUsPPE

Learn More

Join a live training session for the N3C Data Enclave. Users of all types can learn how to navigate the N3C, utilize the Enclave and resources it provides, and learn how to better achieve their analytical goals. This orientation is split into 2 sessions – Session A and Session B. These orientations are ongoing and will alternate week by week. Session A is recommended before attending Session B

Session A is for those who want to learn about N3C, as well as how to engage with project teams and access the data.

Topics include:

• Provide a general overview of N3C, including goals, organization, and community resources such as Domain Teams and Data Liaisons.
• Introduces the 3 data tiers available and important considerations for research driven by the data harmonization process.
• Discusses resources for training and help, as well as the Data Use Request (DUR) process required for researcher access.

Note: This orientation is held alternating Tuesdays | 8-9:30am PT/11am-12:30pm ET

Register

The Intersection of Rigor and Reach: Adapting and Evaluating Autism Interventions in Community Settings

This presentation uses research projects and activities to illustrate the importance of using innovative methodologies and technologies to develop, evaluate, and disseminate interventions that are feasible and impactful in real world settings. The projects focus on children and youth on the autism spectrum, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

Presenter
Jessica Dykstra Steinbrenner, PhD, CCC-SLP
Advanced Research Scientist
Department of Allied Health Sciences
Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences

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This interactive online workshop will focus on semi-structured interviewing, a data collection method used in qualitative research. Topics covered will include basics of semi-structured interviews, development of interview questions and probes, interviewing skills, and considerations for conducting virtual interviews.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice developing interview questions and using interviewing skills.

Presenters

MaryBeth Grewe, MPH, Qualitative Research Specialist
NC TraCS Institute

Simone Frank, MPH, Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
NC TraCS Institute

Register

Join a live training session for the N3C Data Enclave. Users of all types can learn how to navigate the N3C, utilize the Enclave and resources it provides, and learn how to better achieve their analytical goals. This orientation is split into 2 sessions – Session A and Session B. These orientations are ongoing and will alternate week by week. Session A is recommended before attending Session B

Session B is for analysts, statisticians, data scientists, or anyone who wants to gain a broader understanding of the tools needed to work with the data.

Topics include:

• Focus on technical aspects of working with data in the secure N3C Enclave, including use of OMOP concept sets and N3C-specific tooling, such as the Concept Set Browser.
• Introduce commonly used analysis tools, such as Contour and Code Workbooks and corresponding workflows for simple analyses.
• Introduce the Enclave Knowledge Store, a mechanism for sharing and using community-developed code and data across projects.

Note: This orientation is held alternating Tuesdays | 8-9:30am PT/11am-12:30pm ET

Register

This interactive online workshop will provide an introduction to focus groups, a data collection method used in qualitative research. Topics covered will include focus group methodology, considerations for planning a focus group, development of focus group discussion guides, focus group facilitation skills, and tips for conducting virtual focus groups.

Attendees will also participate in a mini "mock" virtual focus group session. The workshop will be led by NC TraCS Community and Stakeholder Engagement Program Qualitative Research Specialist MaryBeth Grewe, MPH, and Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Simone Frank, MPH.

Presenters

MaryBeth Grewe, MPH, Qualitative Research Specialist
NC TraCS Institute

Simone Frank, MPH, Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
NC TraCS Institute

Register

Bradley Staats, DBA, Professor of Operations and Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, will be presenting on the importance of continuous learning.

Objectives:

• Evaluate the challenges that limit learning and process improvement
• Identify how to engage employees in improvement initiatives
• Investigate how to build a learning organization that can innovate continuously

Registration for this event is required.

The PRINCIPLE Adaptive Platform Trial for Community Treatment of COVID-19: Innovation in Trial Design and Delivery

This NIH Collaboratory Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds features Chris Butler, BA, MBChB, DCH, CCH, MD, FRCGP, (Hon)FFPH, FMedSci, and Ben Saville, PhD.

Presenters
Chris Butler, BA, MBChB, DCH, CCH, MD, FRCGP, (Hon)FFPH, FMedSci
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
University of Oxford

Learn More

Join a live training session for the N3C Data Enclave. Users of all types can learn how to navigate the N3C, utilize the Enclave and resources it provides, and learn how to better achieve their analytical goals. This orientation is split into 2 sessions – Session A and Session B. These orientations are ongoing and will alternate week by week. Session A is recommended before attending Session B

Session A is for those who want to learn about N3C, as well as how to engage with project teams and access the data.

Topics include:

• Provide a general overview of N3C, including goals, organization, and community resources such as Domain Teams and Data Liaisons.
• Introduces the 3 data tiers available and important considerations for research driven by the data harmonization process.
• Discusses resources for training and help, as well as the Data Use Request (DUR) process required for researcher access.

Note: This orientation is held alternating Tuesdays | 8-9:30am PT/11am-12:30pm ET

Register

Join the NC TraCS Comparative Effectiveness Research team for a discussion on how real world evidence is being used to identify and evaluate treatments for COVID-19. The journal articles for this discussion include Association Between Early Treatment With Tocilizumab and Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 and Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia.

This event will be led by Michele Jonsson-Funk, PhD, and Sara Dejene.

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Patricia Parker discusses her book, “Ella Baker’s Catalytic Leadership: A Primer on Community Engagement and Communication for Social Justice." She will be joined in conversation by Monica Figueroa, interim librarian for inclusive excellence at the University Libraries. Parker will also answer audience questions.

Ella Baker (1903–1986) was an influential African American civil rights and human rights activist. For five decades, she worked behind the scenes with people in vulnerable communities to catalyze social justice leadership. Her steadfast belief in the power of ordinary people to create change continues to inspire social justice activists around the world.

Register