In February, 17 new research projects and two new Specialty Networks were launched in the NUM study network. The projects were developed in summer 2024 in a thematic area process. The special feature: In addition to answering scientific questions, the projects should also test and further develop the Research Infrastructures in the NUM as use cases.
The 2024 topic area process was carried out within six topic areas. Each of these focussed on the further development of one of the NUM's Research Infrastructures. Researchers at all NUM locations were able to submit abstracts and jointly develop project ideas in the topic areas. Appointed electors at each location then voted on the project ideas. These were in turn developed into project outlines in the themed rooms. The scientific evaluation by independent international experts led to the funding of a total of 20 cross-location projects:
Topic area 1 - Further development of NUM research infrastructures: the ENRICH - Extending NUM Research Infrastructures through Collaboration and Harmonisation project strengthens the visibility, accessibility and interlinking of the Research Infrastructures in the NUM. The centrepiece is a central NUM data portal (DATAPORTAL4NUM) with a so-called "knowledge graph" that bundles metadata, availability and feasibility queries across several NUM research infrastructures and thus enables harmonised access to clinical, imaging, OMICS, pathology, registry and mHealth data. Through standardised processes, federated data storage and interoperable interfaces (including FHIR), ENRICH creates a sustainable, scalable and legally compliant framework for cross-site data use.
Topic area 2 - new Specialty Networks in the NUM Study Network: The new Specialty Network Critical Care (SN CritCare) and Stroke (SN Stroke) have been successfully launched. Together with the Specialty Network Infectious Diseases (SNID), there are now three specialty networks in the NUM that are integrated into the NUM Study Network.
Topic room 3 - new studies for the Specialty Network Infectious Diseases: Six new clinical and clinical-epidemiological studies in the field of infection medicine have been successfully launched (CanTEN, ELAPSE, FOSFO-SNAP, PENGUIN, PREVENT, sWITCH-VO). In addition to investigating important scientific questions, these six studies are testing the infrastructures and processes established in the NUM Study Network and the Specialty Network Infectious Diseases, for example for the recruitment of study participants.
Topic area 4 - Registries: The new registries NUM4Rare and RAPID have been successfully launched and are establishing comprehensive registry infrastructures in the field of rare diseases and routine clinical data from intensive care medicine. Studies also serve as pilot projects for mapping registries in the NUM. Furthermore, these research projects have many interfaces to established NUM research infrastructures such as AKTIN and NUM-DIZ, NUM-SAR, the ENRICH project, NUKLEUS and NUM-MB.
Topic area 5 - NATON use cases: The eLEVATE project has been launched as a new use case of the NUM Platform for Autopsies and Pathology (NATON). eLEVATE focuses on utilising and expanding the specific functionalities of the NATON data platform to process potentially practice-changing scientific questions. Both retrospective and prospective, data-supported modules based on post-mortem diagnostics will be implemented. The project will contribute to the systematic collection of additional autopsy data and thus substantially expand the database of the NATON platform.
Topic area 6 - RACOON use cases: Seven further use cases have been launched to further develop the RACOON infrastructure, the NUM Platform for Imaging Data. These include RACOON-LCS, RACOON-PROSTAIT, RACOON-INCLUDED, RACOON-MARDER, RACOON-COMPARE, RACOON AI Brain Tumor and RACOON-PAIN.
The data and biosamples collected in the projects are then made available in the NUM for subsequent use in answering further research questions. Currently, academic researchers can apply for the data collected in the NUM via the application procedures of the respective NUM Research Infrastructures.
New research projects successfully launched at NUM
