Requests for methodological support via Clinicum is steadily increasing
Clinicum methodological advice, aimed at researchers at KI or Region Stockholm, has, since its inception, supported over 300 researchers with methodological advice. Clinicum is currently hosted by the Department of Medicine, Solna (MedS), but support is provided by approximately 60 experienced methodology specialists from several departments at Karolinska Institutet (KI).
Sandra Eloranta, Associate Professor of Biostatistics at MedS, is the Director of Clinicum and talks here about what Clinicum offers, the challenges that exist, and the opportunities to develop the service.
"Since Clinicum's advisory support began, we've seen more and more researchers turning to us for help in planning their studies. But even though we already reach many researchers at KI and within the Region, we still encounter many colleagues who are unaware of the opportunity we offer. Therefore, communication and information continue to be important for us, and we are happy to visit your research groups to tell you more about what we can assist with," says Sandra Eloranta.
Clinicum is more than methodological advice
In addition to advisory meetings, Clinicum also organizes seminar series, offers drop-in sessions for programming support, and hosts themed days, for example, focusing on issues related to health data research.
Within Clinicum’s working group, there are people specifically working on developing support in areas such as health data, clinical trials, and new methodological fields like AI and machine learning. Annica Dominicus, a biostatistician at MedS and head of Clinicum's operations in Solna, is currently conducting a pilot study that provides extended support for researchers who want to start using RedCap for data collection in their studies. This support will be evaluated during the autumn.
Satisfied researchers
Already this past spring, Clinicum conducted an evaluation of how researchers perceive the advisory service available to all researchers at KI or within Region Stockholm. The survey was addressed to all individuals who had received support up to the end of 2024.
"The results were overwhelmingly positive and show that what we are doing is seen as valuable and on the right track in terms of helping to raise the methodological quality of the research conducted across KI. We are very grateful that so many took the time to answer our questions and thus help us shape Clinicum according to the actual needs of researchers," Sandra concludes.
Get tips on current methodological support every month with Clinicum's newsletter.