The document discusses integration challenges and solutions between OpenClinica and OpenXdata in the context of clinical trials in rural Africa. It highlights open-source tools for data management, the use of XML standards, and the creation of a mapping layer to convert data between systems. The presenter emphasizes the importance of regular communication and collaboration in overcoming issues while working with open-source software.

1. Integration Secrets:
OpenClinica, OpenXData, SOAP Web Services, and much more
Tom Hickerson
Senior Tier-2 Engineer
OpenClinica LLC
April 7, 2012

2. Hello.world();
About your presenter today:
 First studied in USSR, St.
Petersburg’s Herzen Institute, 1991
 First came to Kharkov in 1995
 First worked with Java in 1998
 First worked with Java EE in 2002
 First worked for OpenClinica in 2003
 First worked with Spring in 2008

3. Problem.setLocale(“Africa”);
University of Bergen is running
clinical trials in rural Africa, to collect
vaccine information:
• No infrastructure
• No bandwidth
• Very little technology (i.e. no
iPhones, iPads, etc)

4. Tools.setJavaME(true);
Open-source form creation for use
with JavaME and mobile phones
Ability to collect data:
• On a desktop computer
• On a basic java-enabled phone,
(e.g. Nokia 1680 ~$35)
• Or capture geo-tagged &
multimedia data (e.g. Nokia 2710
~$150)
http://www.openxdata.org/

5. Tools.setOpenClinica(true);
Open-source clinical data
management:
• Data management
• Discrepancy Management
• Data Export
• Regulated User Access
• Study/Patient Management
• Currently only through a
desktop/laptop computer
connected to the Internet
http://www.openclinica.com/

6. likeWebService(true,false);
OpenClinica already has several
web services out of the box, passing
data in XML using SOAP
OpenXData also uses XML to define
the forms and the data that is
captured
Project Manager: “Easy! All we have
to do is write a web service!”
Developer: …

7. Problem.difStandards(true);
OpenClinica uses CDISC ODM OpenXData uses the Xforms
XML, a standard in the clinical data standard, as set forth by W3C:
space: http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/REC-
xforms-
http://www.cdisc.org/odm 20031014/index.html#contents

8. Tools.addMappingTool(true);
U of Bergen and I have been
working on a mapping layer
between OpenClinica and
OpenXData, changing one form of
XML to another:
https://github.com/mapkon/oc-
conversion-tools/
The secret ingredient to mapping –
Groovy, a dynamic language based
on the JVM.

9. Problem.applyFix(Tools);
XML SOAP
conver
OpenClinica sion
OpenXData
While OpenClinica and
OpenXData are very similar,
the conversion tool is not

10. Tools.focusOnFix(true);
conver Servlet
sion
Groovy code
Unit tests
SoapClient
ServiceImpl Transform Xforms
Impl
Transform.xsl

11. Problem.isFixSolved(?);
Working with open-source has its own set of challenges:
1. Providing too much data (500 Mb!)
2. XML standards with different purposes
3. Not enough functionality in current web services
4. In short, progress is being made, but it is slow.
Lessons learned: regular communication is key (daily stand-ups, staying
in touch via Skype, IM, etc) and issues need to be raised right away.

12. Any Questions?
Thanks to:
 GlobalLogic
 University of Bergen
 The OpenXData Team
 The OpenClinica Team