Navigating the growing landscape of clinical, research, genomic and population health data is a challenge investigators face today. Researchers may know the questions they want to answer, but identifying the right data sources and understanding governance requirements can create delays. A new publication in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science highlights how The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is addressing these challenges through its innovative Data Navigation Program and introduces a scalable framework that could benefit institutions across the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium.
The paper, “A Data Navigation Model to Improve Access to Research Data Resources in Clinical and Translational Science,” written by authors Neena Thomas, Ayse Odabas, Soledad Fernandez, Lang Li and Julie A. Johnson, describes Ohio State’s novel approach to supporting researchers through a dedicated Data Navigator who serves as a centralized entry point for data-related inquiries. The Data Navigator helps clarify research needs, connect researchers with the right experts and guide them through institutional and regulatory requirements. By serving as a bridge between researchers and data experts, the Data Navigator helps move projects more quickly from idea to discovery.
The publication also demonstrates strong demand for this type of support and how it informed the development of a self-service decision-support tool. In its first 16 months, the Data Navigator provided approximately 75 consultations across a wide range of research questions and data resources. The Research Data Source Match Tool was then developed to scale up the reach of the data navigator and help researchers identify appropriate data sources and understand associated governance requirements independently.
By combining personalized consultation, a self-service Research Data Source Match tool and institutional expertise and technology-enabled guidance, Ohio State’s Data Navigation Program offers a first-of-its-kind model for reducing barriers to research, improving access to complex data resources and accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into improved health outcomes.
Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute.