Development of a System for Investigator Initiated Clinical Research to Collect Data from Many Medical Institutes—A Case of Adequate Treatment of Osteoporosis (A-TOP) Study Group—

Abstract

 Adequate Treatment of Osteoporosis (A-TOP) Study Group, which is an organization for investigator initiated clinical trials and is constituted in order to collect the evidences necessary for the treatments of osteoporosis in Japan, develops a server/client system that can be applicable for multi-center randomized comparative studies. This system is placed in University Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center, and provides the services including subject allocation and registration, logic check, and follow-up to the participating doctors on a nationwide scale on the Internet. In addition, the supporting system by Site Management Organization (SMO) is prepared to assist the practicing doctors who routinely treat patient with osteoporosis in collecting the data.

 The combination with the Internet system and supporting system developed by A-TOP Study Group can be one of useful devices for investigator-initiated clinical trials that may expand in various medical fields in future.