Towards Reproducible Translational Research Using Templates
Creators: name: Gouripeddi, Ramkiran
name: Cummins, Mollie
name: LaSalle, Bernie
name: Sward, Katherine
name: Dere, Will
name: Facelli, Julio
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018

description: Requirements and processes in translational research are expressed in natural language making them subject to human interpretation and ambiguities. Using templates in other domains such as software engineering have enabled better precision and translation of requirements to developed products [1]. To enable better reproducibility, the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) is developing, evaluating and deploying templates for performing translational research. Translational research requisition processes are presented as templates or in natural language. In the absence of a template, natural language requests and processes are cast into templates using state of the art pattern matching methods. These requirements and processes are automatically checked for conformance with existing templates [1,2]. Those meeting the conformance checks are passed on to the respective CCTS Foundations and/or service cores for their fulfillment. Those failing the conformance checks are sent back to the investigator for review, and then discussed with the CCTS Foundations/Cores.  This template-based approach will be useful for various types of translational research services including: requesting and designing statistical analysis plans [3,4], research data and informatics support requests [5], trial recruitment services [6], biospecimen and DNA analysis services, and clinical study services. Templates have been shown to be effective in increasing precision of natural language requirements and reducing ambiguities [1]. When implemented we envision that this informatics-based process will enable efficiency, quality and reproducibility of translational research processes and results.
description: This research is supported by the Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science funded by NCATS award UL1TR001067.
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