Trial Innovation Network

The Trial Innovation Network (TIN) was created in 2016 as a collaborative initiative amongst Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) institutions.  The primary objective is to enhance multi-site trial operations by leveraging the resources and collective expertise of CTSA members to provide complementary services for all aspects of proposal development and execution.

The TIN has a two-fold functionality: it is a pathway connecting The Ohio Sate University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital investigators to potential collaborators from other CTSA institutions and resources to strengthen their proposals and to execute proposals better, faster and more cost-effectively. In addition, the TIN facilitates strategic partnerships by assisting investigators from other CTSA institutions to identify collaborators at Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s Hospital based on targeted feasibility assessments.

The TIN is comprised of three key organizational partners:

Trial Innovation Centers (TICs) 

The National Trial Innovation Centers (TICS) focus on operational excellence, operational innovation and quality by design. The TICs responsible for coordinating and providing innovative, high-quality operational support for clinical trials. There are three TICs:

  • Duke University / Vanderbilt University
  • John Hopkins University / Tufts University
  • University of Utah
Recruitment Innovation Centers (RICs)

The National Recruitment Innovation Center (RIC) focused on innovative and evidence-based approaches to participant recruitment, retention, and engagement. The RIC is responsible for providing tools and services to enhance participant recruitment and retention.

  • Vanderbilt University with partners at Columbia University, University of Utah, Rockefeller University and The Ohio State University
TIN Hub Liaison Team at The Ohio State University

Each CTSA across the nation has a team at the local level that aids investigators in the development of the study proposal and the TIN application process.

Interim Director and PI: Matthew D. Ringel, MD
Medical Director: Henry Wang, MD
Administrator/Project Manager: Amy Bartlett, BA, CCRC
Nationwide Children's Program Manager: Smitha Sasindran, MS, MBA

In addition, the TIN provides Trial Planning and Trial Execution Services.

Trial Planning: Initial Consultations

Protocol Design

Study and Budget Feasibility

Statistical Analysis Plan

Risk Assessment

Engagement and Recruitment Plans

Patient Engagement Studio

Cohort Discover Leveraging EHR

Recruitment Training

Access to unique populations - Rare Diseases

Key Opinion Leader/Clinical Expertise

Trial Execution Services

Serve as a Central IRB for your multi-site proposal.

Implement Standard Clinical Trial Agreements for your multi-site proposal.

Provide clinical and data coordinating center services such as regulatory support, project management, data management, development of consent form and case report forms, site selection, initiation and training, performance metrics, Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), study close-out, statistical analysis and publication.

Evaluation and improvement of recruitment plans and tools.

Navigating the complicated clinical research landscape can be challenging especially when conducting one’s own investigator-initiated multi-site study. The goal of the TIN is to address the critical roadblocks in clinical trials and accelerate the translation of novel interventions into life-saving therapies. By focusing on operational innovation, operational excellence and collaboration, the TIN supports investigators develop and implement multi-site clinical trials better, faster and more cost-effectively.

  • Complimentary services
  • Pipeline for finding the collaborators
  • Increased competitiveness of applications for NIH
  • Access to expertise in multi-center operations (TICs and the RIC) enabling better implementation

If you are interested in submitting a proposal to the TIN, you must contact the Ohio State Hub Liaison Team for an initial review of your proposal, brief consultation and review by a local scientific review committee. Please contact Amy Bartlett, TIN Hub Liaison Team Administrator at 614-247-7732 with questions.