Clinical research at UZ Gent: a focus on patient-oriented, personalized medicine

UZ Gent has been conducting a scientific policy since 2009. Together with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University, four research areas were selected that receive additional financial resources to further expand their position: oncology, genetics, immunology and neurosciences.

At UZ Gent translational research is carried out by the Health, innovation and research institute. This institute is dedicated to clinical trials, data management, contract reviewing, innovation and valorisation.

The Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) is recognized for its expertise in the support and advice in submissions and monitoring of academic clinical research projects. Investigator-initiated academic clinical research is defined as research for which a (university) hospital, university or an authorized organization acts as sponsor. This means that this particular institution has the full responsibility over the design, set-up, management and safety of the clinical experiment. Services proposed in this framework include the support in the preparation of a correct and complete submission package for the Ethics Committee and Competent Authority, guiding the investigator in reporting to the Ethics Committee and/or the Competent Authority, performing on-site and remote monitoring according ICH-GCP for all clinical trials with medical products and medical devices for which Ghent University (Hospital) is sponsor, providing a no-fault insurance (only when Ghent University (Hospital) is sponsor), guiding investigators and providing advice in the development of a trial, providing (online) training regarding ICHGCP and follow-up on the new or updated regulations, and interact with other research institutions. © UZ Gent

The Data Management Unit povides support and advice in biomedical research data management using best practices and appropriate software to improve efficiency and comply with the regulatory obligations. Applications encompass the clinical Trial Management System (CTMS), the Research Electronic Data Capture system (REDCap), the electronic Patient Reported Outcomes (ePRO), the inSite platform (international CT recruitment tool) and SLims (Bioresource Center Ghent).

The Innovation & Valorisation Unit facilitates and supports the translational research initiatives and maximize innovation and valorisation of the obtained results within UZ Gent. Its members provide advice and support on funding programs, during the application procedure and after the granting of the project. They have expertise in research projects including FWO, BOF, IOF, Kom op tegen Kanker (Stand up against Cancer), Koning Boudewijn stichting (King Baudouin Foundation), KCE, Fonds voor Innovatie en Klinisch Onderzoek (Fund for Innovation and Clinical Research, UZ Gent), Horizon Europe… The unit is also active in the fields of intellectual property rights (education in valorisation and IP focusing on patents and the economic potential, guidance through the IP prosecution path, in close collaboration with UGent-TechTransfer, valorisation of project results) and innovative technologies (artificial intelligence, biomechanical engineering, augmented and virtual reality). To conclude the unit helps industrial partners to look for partnerships within nonacademic/industrial partners (e.g. VLAIO), it liaises with the Industrial Research Funds (IOF) for funding valorisation projects, gives advice and support on industrial collaborations and supervises contract procedures (CDA, research collaborations…).

The Health, innovation and research institute also relies upon the Bioresource Center Ghent, the central point of contact for biobanking at UZ Gent. Its mission is to facilitate translational (biomedical) scientific research by being an open service center for all aspects related to biobanking. This unit offer services such as clinical data management in REDCap for academic studies, REDCap support, the support of the Liaison ICT department as well as Big Data projects including machine learning.

Thanks to its wide range of skills and expertise, the Health, innovation and research institute supports clinical research at UZ Gent in a way that is multidisciplinary, competent, flexible, cooperative, internally connective and externally competitive. All this for the ultimate benefit of patients.