Aggregating and analysing clinical trials data from multiple public registers using R package ctrdata.

Area of Science:

• Clinical trial data management
• Public health research
• Regulatory science

Background:

• Publicly available clinical trial data is valuable but difficult to access and analyze across different registers.
• Discrepancies in data models, definitions, and search parameters across registers hinder efficient research workflows.
• A programmatic solution is needed to integrate and leverage data from multiple clinical trial registries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the ctrdata R package, a tool designed to simplify the use of public clinical trial data.
• To demonstrate how ctrdata facilitates user-friendly, reproducible workflows for data identification, download, and analysis.
• To highlight the utility of ctrdata for researchers in public health, medicines, and regulatory science.

Main Methods:

• Development of the open-source R package 'ctrdata'.
• Integration with major clinical trial registers: EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS), EU Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR), ClinicalTrials.Gov (CTGOV), and ISRCTN.
• Implementation of standardized workflows for accessing and analyzing trial data.

Main Results:

• ctrdata provides a unified interface for accessing data from diverse clinical trial registers.
• The package supports reproducible research by enabling systematic data retrieval and analysis.
• Facilitates insights into drug development practices and informs future clinical research.

Conclusions:

• ctrdata enhances the accessibility and utility of public clinical trial data for researchers.
• The package supports collaborative research and the development of data-driven solutions for various stakeholders.
• It addresses the need for a scientific-technical solution to overcome data integration challenges in clinical trial research.