Data management in multi-center clinical trials and the role of a nation-wide computer network. A 5 year evaluation

Multidisciplinary collaboration in multi-center trials needs a formalized data management structure to ensure true progress monitoring and high quality research data. Cadans, a customized facility for data management, related to the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands, designed a computer-based data management system for multidisciplinary multi-center collaborative research projects. In this paper we describe the system and the role of integrated access to research databases on a data network. Areas of concern are also discussed.