Data-driven, cross-disciplinary collaboration: lessons learned at the largest academic health center in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ritto Ana Paula , de Araujo Adriana Ladeira , de Carvalho Carlos Roberto Ribeiro , De Souza Heraldo Possolo , Favaretto Patricia Manga e Silva , Saboya Vivian Renata Boldrim , Garcia Michelle Louvaes , Kulikowski Leslie Domenici , Kallás Esper Georges , Pereira Antonio José Rodrigues , Cobello Junior Vilson , Silva Katia Regina , Abdalla Eidi Raquel Franco , Segurado Aluisio Augusto Cotrim , Sabino Ester Cerdeira , Ribeiro Junior Ulysses , Francisco Rossana Pulcineli Vieira , Miethke-Morais Anna , Levin Anna Sara Shafferman , Sawamura Marcio Valente Yamada , Ferreira Juliana Carvalho , Silva Clovis Artur , Mauad Thais , Gouveia Nelson da Cruz , Letaif Leila Suemi Harima , Bego Marco Antonio , Battistella Linamara Rizzo , Duarte Alberto José da Silva , Seelaender Marilia Cerqueira Leite , Marchini Julio , Forlenza Orestes Vicente , Rocha Vanderson Geraldo , Mendes-Correa Maria Cassia , Costa Silvia Figueiredo , Cerri Giovanni Guido , Bonfá Eloisa Silva Dutra de Oliveira , Chammas Roger , de Barros Filho Tarcisio Eloy Pessoa , Busatto Filho Geraldo 
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted global research efforts to reduce infection impact, highlighting the potential of cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance research quality and efficiency.

Methods

At the FMUSP-HC academic health system, we implemented innovative flow management routines for collecting, organizing and analyzing demographic data, COVID-related data and biological materials from over 4,500 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized from 2020 to 2022. This strategy was mainly planned in three areas: organizing a database with data from the hospitalizations; setting-up a multidisciplinary taskforce to conduct follow-up assessments after discharge; and organizing a biobank. Additionally, a COVID-19 curated collection was created within the institutional digital library of academic papers to map the research output.

Results

Over the course of the experience, the possible benefits and challenges of this type of research support approach were identified and discussed, leading to a set of recommended strategies to enhance collaboration within the research institution. Demographic and clinical data from COVID-19 hospitalizations were compiled in a database including adults and a minority of children and adolescents with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, covering 2020–2022, with approximately 350 fields per patient. To date, this database has been used in 16 published studies. Additionally, we assessed 700 adults 6 to 11 months after hospitalization through comprehensive, multidisciplinary in-person evaluations; this database, comprising around 2000 fields per subject, was used in 15 publications. Furthermore, thousands of blood samples collected during the acute phase and follow-up assessments remain stored for future investigations. To date, more than 3,700 aliquots have been used in ongoing research investigating various aspects of COVID-19. Lastly, the mapping of the overall research output revealed that between 2020 and 2022 our academic system produced 1,394 scientific articles on COVID-19.

Discussion

Research is a crucial component of an effective epidemic response, and the preparation process should include a well-defined plan for organizing and sharing resources. The initiatives described in the present paper were successful in our aim to foster large-scale research in our institution. Although a single model may not be appropriate for all contexts, cross-disciplinary collaboration and open data sharing should make health research systems more efficient to generate the best evidence.