Data Collection and Management Plans

The SC CTSI team assists investigators with developing a data collection strategy (data acquisition and management plan) that is tied to the research question and study design. This may include but is not limited to:

• defining the specific patient-based data to be collected (including demographic, clinical, laboratory, and other data)
• ensuring that the data are collected in an appropriate manner to test the research question
• defining the source of data
• defining protocols and format for collection and recording of data
• defining method of electronic storage of data
• plans to routinely summarize data and monitor data quality

The SC CTSI team supports efficient and accurate data collection and reporting, to promote high quality of data collection and reporting of study results.  

The service is provided in the form of a consultation with an option to purchase additional services on a recharge basis. Investigators may be eligible for multiple categories of discount; maximum number of free hours per investigator per year is 15 hours.

Recharge rates: $125/hour after initial consultation * Free 1-hour initial consultation is included

• Initial Consultation: (up to 1 hour): Free for any project based at USC, CHLA and affiliated SC CTSI institutions.
• SC CTSI Pilot Funding Awardees: (up to 2 hours*): Any SC CTSI Pilot Funding Awardee can receive up to 2 hours free for work related to the funded project.
• Junior Investigators: (up to 5 hours*): Junior Investigators, as defined by NIH and/or in an Assistant professor classification may receive up to 5 free hours of support per project.
• K Awardees: (up to 15 hours annually*): All K awardees may receive up to 15 hours free in total annually for their K – related project based at USC, CHLA and affiliated SC CTSI institutions.
• T Scholars: (up to 15 hours annually*): All T scholars may receive up to 15 hours free in total annually for their T – related project based at USC, CHLA and affiliated SC CTSI institutions.
• Extramural Grant Planning: (up to 3 hours*): Researchers seeking support in the preparation of grants for submission within 6 months, may receive up to 3 free hours of services in support of the grant application. This includes consultation on issues related to:
  
  
  • Study/experimental design
  • Power/sample size
  • Randomization schema
  • Statistical analysis plan
  • Analysis/Interpretation of results
  • Data acquisition plan
  • Data cleaning and management
  • Data sharing plan
  • Other

• PM516 Volunteers: (up to 5 hours* outside of class): Maximum of four PM516 Volunteers annually may receive up to 5 free hours each of services in support of the project volunteered to the class (in addition to student/class time).