Informatics

Computer hardware and software are an integral part of the advancement of scientific research. Computers provide the tools to store, manage, query, and analyze the resulting data of a study. The CRC provides critical technical support to assist investigators in data organization, management, and retrieval. The Informatics Core Manager makes recommendations regarding appropriate software for data management, collection, and analysis.

Investigators may receive consulting services on the technology to be used in the study and data collection methods to help them develop a data management strategy. Services involve assessing the specific factors of a study that include the physical location of the data, data security and confidentiality, reporting requirements, multi-user/site access to the data, project management, application life cycle, ensuring data integrity, backing up and archiving the data, etc. Investigators may also obtain assistance in the development of a clinical database customized to their study.

Clinical databases are designed using the Mount Sinai Electronic Research Application Portal (eRAP), a web-based Electronic Data Entry System with secure access to enter, store, and present clinical data for a variety of projects. Using this versatile system, investigators may enter data via user-defined web-based forms, search for specific records, generate varieties of custom reports, as well as add new data fields to the forms with the UDF functionality.

The CRC also offers assistance with sample labeling and tracking. Based on the investigator’s request, customized label templates as well as generic labels with study-specific identifiers can be generated. Label templates may be created to include a series of labels corresponding to all of the samples, which should be obtained from the patient at the time of the particular visit. 

The Informatics Core Manager Larisa Perman can be reached at larisa.perman@mssm.edu. For additional information, please contact the administration office at (212) 241-6045.