This document discusses the need for libraries to play a central role in connecting research information systems and healthcare data in an academic hospital setting. It notes that current research information systems like CRIS are limited and do not allow connections between different types of research data. The library should work to develop a middleware solution to manage metadata flows between university and hospital systems. This will help provide a more complete picture of research by connecting different data types like publications, grants, datasets, and more. Taking an active role in data architecture and working towards standards can help libraries take back control of research data and ensure its long-term integration and reuse.

1. The Trail of the Data
Why the library should be the
central pivot
bringing
research information systems
and healthcare data together in
an academic hospital setting
Guus van den Brekel, Central Medical Library, UMCG EAHIL 2023, Trondheim

2. Purpose of
this talk
The goal is to aim for better insight
of the data trail, contributing to
research integrity, research impact
and societal relevance.

3. • Active role in data architecture in your organisation
• A Research Information Architecture Board
• Work on proficiency of API’s in libraries
• Work on awareness of data autonomy, standard formats and
long-term integration
• A middleware solution is needed to manage the flow of
research metadata between university/hospital systems
• Take back control over our data
The summary up front : take it home

4. The Trail of
the Data
Relations, Relations, Relations

5. It started with a
Current Research
Information
System (CRIS)
https://research.rug.nl
Publications, Publications, Publications

6. Changing landscape
research information,
analytics &
assessment

7. Collaborations in
UMCG
Reseach Office Impact Team
Grant Support
Hub
Impact officer HR
Finance
Academic CareeR
Development
Clinical Research
Office
Digital
Competence
Center
Cohort and
Biobank
Coordination Hub
Webteam/
Communications
Graduate School Hora Finita
Business
Intelligence Team

8. Our Pure & relations
poor
No input and/or reporting
options between all content
Researchers are unaware of
options
No active connections to
possible sources

9. How can we get
the complete
picture if we can’t
connect all the
dots?
The Open Science Training Handbook,
https://zenodo.org/record/2587951

11. Possible research relations
Author IDs Acronyms Grant numbers Datasets Biobanks Cohorts
clinicaltrials.gov EUCTR/CTIS finance HR Study names Protocol IDs
activities prizes media EPD Organization IDs patents
research register
UMCG Data
Catalogue
Citations
Alternative
metrics
Indicators
Societal relevance

14. Challenges in data autonomy in research
information
Rise of AI
Cloud
Migrations
Fast changing
technologies
IT workforce
shortages
Limited
software vendor
experiences
Multiple
systems but no
connections

15. Elements of a solution….
Default exchangeability
formats
Data-driven research &
work
Maybe put more
responsibility at the
funders for how they
“manage” our data
Research information
chain
• +european union (
Metadata Quality Dashboard)
• –local dutch funders …
Don’t stay in your own
lane ….. Outside Your
box

16. https://www.health-ri.nl

17. ‘Open Knowledge Base’
Open Research Information Agenda (ORIA)
Probably a PID Graph
“The PID Graph establishes connections
between different entities within the research
landscape, thereby enabling researchers and
institutions to access new information. Through
the PID Graph, the infrastructure is in place to
answer new questions about connections
within the research world”
Cousijn, Helena, et al. "Connected research:
The potential of the PID graph." Patterns 2.1
(2021): 100180.

19. take home
• Active role in data architecture in your
organisation
• A Research Information Architecture
Board
• Work on proficiency of API’s in libraries
• Work on awareness of data autonomy,
standard formats and long-term
integration
• A middleware solution is needed to
manage the flow of research metadata
between university/hospital systems
• Take back control over our data

21. Photos by myself & the talk is
based on a number of
interviews, and strongly inspired
by a memo by Nick Veenstra,
one of the leads of the FRIDa
project on Data Autonomy
Guus van den Brekel, Central Medical Library, UMCG EAHIL 2023, Trondheim