THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

As a CDISC Platinum Member, PROMETRIKA has the opportunity to sit on the CDISC Advisory Council (CAC), which plays an important role in shaping CDISC’s development and direction. Platinum Member representatives serve on the CAC, contributing industry expertise and sharing real-world implementation experiences. The CAC represents a cross-section of organizations within the pharma industry; thus, making them a part of the review process for assessing and revising standards. Collectively, the CAC provides the CDISC Executive Team with recommendations that further the CAC mission of “unifying the voices of membership to influence and support CDISC goals.”

CDISC standards in clinical trials are the cornerstone of any successful submission to regulatory agencies. While they are “standards,” the structure and the nuances of applying them are continually evolving and changing, making it important to keep up to date in order to provide quality submissions. Here at PROMETRIKA, a full-service CRO, our statistical programmers and biostatisticians engage in continuing education activities by attending webinars, conferences, and training sessions specifically related to CDISC standards in clinical trials.

Recently, while performing CDISC SDTM mapping for one of our clients, a unique situation arose that involved the DA (Drug Accountability) domain.  This domain tabulates the amount of treatment units dispensed to a subject and the amount returned to gauge dosing compliance for each treated subject and is often collected in a log format.  On the surface, it seems like a fairly straight forward domain, but for this particular example, there were a number of factors that contributed to creating a complex scenario.

I can actually say that I have been working in the Clinical Trials industry since the last century.  I started as a database programmer, part of data management in a large (now huge) CRO.  In those days we used paper CRFs, entered by hand into a database platform that was built and maintained inhouse.  We had our own naming conventions for variables and could pretty much build whatever we wanted and group the data however it made sense to us.  Prior to deliverables, we printed out the entire database so data managers could review it. All the files were burned to floppy discs and we’d pop them in the mail to the sponsor.  With the amount of data we collect, and the requirement to do more, faster, can you even imagine doing that now?

Last October, Susan Boquist, Associate Director, Statistical Programming, traveled to CDISC International Interchange in San Diego, California to present the poster, “Creating Harmonious SDTM Domains”.  The poster was created in collaboration with Principal Statistical Programmers: Elena Prosekova, Natalia Quinn and Sofia Tyryshkina. 

Mapping raw data into standardized, tabulated data sets can be a daunting task to undertake, especially if one has not done it before.  Even seasoned mappers could use the help of some additional ideas and tips.  The poster shared the authors’ thoughts, suggestions and examples to help turn a cacophony of raw data into a standardized symphony that will flow into analysis.