At the outset of the pandemic, we announced the establishment of the COVID-19 Registry Collaborative (CRC) to provide researchers with timely access to clinical data of patients with COVID-19. The Registry has represented a true collaborative effort between the clinical informatics teams at UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources, who met weekly to share data views and inclusion criteria.

Based on UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources patients, the registry data have been compiled from COVID-19 testing of about 678,000 unique patients, with 37% from William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. Out of this population, over 94,000 patients have tested positive for COVID-19, and over 28,000 infected patients have been hospitalized at respective inpatient facilities.

Such robust databases have provided a fertile ground for research. So far, 57 research proposals for accessing the Registry have been submitted, of which 51 were approved by its data access committee. From this group of approved proposals, at least four research grants received extramural funding, and another two were submitted. We know of seven papers based upon Registry data that have been published to date, with another three submitted pending review or revision, and five abstracts have been presented.

The COVID-19 Registry Collaborative is available at covid19rps.swmed.edu/crc/ (VPN access required). Users can log in using their UT Southwestern username and password. The site includes an online form that researchers interested in accessing COVID-19 patient data should use to describe their hypothesis, study intent, and required data elements. Once approved by the CRC Review Committee, proposals can be submitted for UTSW IRB and site-specific approval.

For more information, contact the COVID-19 Registry Collaborative Task Force co-Chairs Drs. Susan Hedayati and Christoph Lehmann.

UT Southwestern’s CTSA Program is soliciting requests for proposals to acquire external databases to allow researchers access to data for translational, clinical, and public health research.  

Understanding that researchers are best qualified to identify databases that are useful and will lead to successful publications and future grants, the CTSA Program is calling on them to suggest resources (databases, datasets) that best support their work to be purchased for UT Southwestern.

Successful proposals will identify the resource, indicate which departments and groups will benefit from its acquisition, list which publications and grants are expected as a result of having access to it, and propose how to manage and maintain access for UTSW researchers.

Proposals require a detailed explanation of how the resource will be made available to new researchers over the course of its acquisition and license, including training on access and use. 

Complete and submit the application form by Jan. 31.

Designed to increase the likelihood of funding as you write or resubmit your K award, this workshop focuses on each of the steps of the grant process. With guidance from a coach, participants will write relevant sections of the grant for review at each session. By the end of the program, they will complete a K grant and take part in a mock study section.  

Faculty working to submit or resubmit a K award are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.  

To apply, send your CV, letter of support from your mentor, and a one-page statement of interest and career goals to Laurie Knox by Feb. 4. Notification of acceptance will be sent by Feb. 14. 

The workshops run from Feb. 27 through May 15. Upon acceptance, participants will be polled to determine day and time preferences.  

View more career development programs that focus on the foundational skills of scientific writing.

Clinical and Translational Research Forum

This interactive forum provides an opportunity for trainees to meet with established investigators in clinical and translational research to share their ideas and experiences.

• Featured speaker and topic: Robert Toto, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Population and Data Sciences, and in the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, will present a talk on perseverance.
• Thursday, Jan. 20 at noon. Join via Zoom; meeting ID 918 5345 2714, passcode 361531

Successfully Obtaining an R (SOAR) Grant Program

The SOAR R-Grant Writers Workshop is a grantsmanship program that provides junior faculty conducting basic, translational, or clinical research the opportunity to work with a coach to craft a fundable proposal. Apply by Jan. 20.

Clinical Informatics Research Colloquium

This event brings together scientists in clinical informatics, research informatics, and other data and informatics to exchange ideas, collaborate, and develop grants, papers, and projects. 

• Featured speaker and topic: Suzanne Bakken, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FACMI, Alumni Professor of Nursing and Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA), will share what it is like to manage an informatics journal, what our faculty, trainees, and students need to know about writing good informatics papers, and insights on up-and-coming topics in informatics research. 
• Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Contact Katherine Flannery to register for the virtual event.

Writing Accountability Groups for Increasing Scholarly Activity

This bootcamp will help you overcome obstacles in finding time to write and the intimidation of getting started. The series includes six weekly sessions conducted over Zoom in which you will work on your own scholarly writing, accompanied by individual and group accountability.

• Dates and times: Wednesdays beginning March 2 through April 13 from 8 to 9 a.m.
• Prerequisites: Scholarly writing project to work on and a commitment to attend a minimum of five sessions.
• To register, contact Laurie Knox. For more information, visit wagyourwork.com.