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Pulse - Fall 2024 TriNetX Platform Transforms Clinical Research at College of Medicine

In 2022, Drexel University College of Medicine introduced TriNetX, a powerful platform that connects researchers to a worldwide repository of clinical data. TriNetX offers access to insights from more than 250 million patients spanning hundreds of health care organizations in 19 countries.

TriNetX

As part of the introduction process, the implementation team organized numerous sessions for researchers and medical students. This training program was organized to support users, providing guidance to ensure a smooth, efficient experience while also complying with data privacy regulations. Additional support was provided by the Drexel IT team and TriNetX staff to address technical issues and optimize platform usage. A robust IT infrastructure was crucial to successful implementation, allowing for seamless integration and enhanced performance.

Karen Berkowitz, MD, associate dean for medical student research, emphasizes how TriNetX has been particularly effective in connecting more medical students to clinical research opportunities. “Finding mentors in their chosen specialty can be challenging for MD students, especially given our distributed educational model,” she explains. “However, a student in Philadelphia can now more easily collaborate with a mentor in Pittsburgh or Harrisburg.” In the past, this would have required traveling to the mentor’s clinical site or attempting to access that facility’s medical records remotely. Now, students and mentors can collaborate remotely on projects through TriNetX. “Engaging in research during medical school is a key way for students to distinguish themselves in the residency match process, so the importance of these opportunities cannot be overstated,” says Berkowitz.

This platform has elevated Drexel’s research capabilities. It has provided our students and faculty with the opportunity to access massive global clinical data, driving innovative research and fostering collaborations. It’s fundamentally reshaping how we conduct research by leveraging global, real-world data.

Implementing TriNetX at the College of Medicine has been transformative. “This platform has elevated Drexel’s research capabilities. It has provided our students and faculty with the opportunity to access massive global clinical data, driving innovative research and fostering collaborations,” says Janet Matthews, MSN, RN, senior director, research program development, who was instrumental in the implementation process. “It’s fundamentally reshaping how we conduct research by leveraging global, real-world data.”

Meghan Berkenstock, MD ’11, president of the College of Medicine Alumni Association and a dedicated mentor of medical students interested in the field of ophthalmology, says that TriNetX has been a huge asset for her mentees. “I currently have 17 students using TriNetX,” she says. “It is really helping medical students do clinical research, and the work they are putting out is truly exemplary.”

One of her mentees, Rayna Marshall, MD ’25, is interested in pursuing residency training in ophthalmology. She used TriNetX for her research presentation, “Prevalence and Incidence of Juvenile Idiopathic ArthritisAssociated Uveitis and Medication Trends in the TriNetX Database,” which she presented at the American Uveitis Society spring meeting in Seattle, Wash. The study examined the cumulative and annual prevalence and incidence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis from 2013 to 2023.

More information about TriNetX is available on the College of Medicine’s website, which includes a link to the Office of Research’s SharePoint site. These resources include recordings of recent trainings and presentations about TriNetX, useful links and important contact information. All researchers are also welcome to attend TriNetX office hours, the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 2 to 3 p.m., with a TriNetX analyst who can answer questions and assist with projects.

Marshall says, “Trying to match into ophthalmology initially seemed like a daunting task. With the amazing mentorship of Dr. Berkenstock and access to the TriNetX database, I have been able to efficiently analyze large datasets to synthesize research project ideas that eventually culminated in a podium talk at a national conference and a submitted first-author manuscript!”

Berkenstock notes that Marshall has “really embraced TriNetX. We are working on our fifth paper using the database, and she is now a mentor to other medical students.”

Nila Kirupaharan, MD ’26, another of Berkenstock’s mentees, presented “Incidence and Prevalence of Uveitis and Associated Ocular Complications in the U.S. TriNetX Database” at the 2024 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting in Chicago, Ill. The study analyzed the cumulative and annual incidence and prevalence of uveitis from 2013 to 2023. “Under Dr. Berkenstock’s guidance, working with TriNetX’s extensive database has been invaluable. The vast data offers countless research opportunities, enabling me to conduct epidemiological studies that led to podium presentations and deepened my understanding of areas of interest like uveitis, all building toward a future in ophthalmology.”

Kenny Simansky, PhD, senior vice dean for research at the College of Medicine, shares the enthusiasm for what TriNetX has to offer. He says, “We are excited about the opportunities for research and learning from clinical epidemiology that TriNetX brings to students and faculty. This platform will be a tool to link our regional medical campuses, supporting research training for medical and graduate students and developing collaborations among our faculty across these important academic sites.”

 
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Pulse is published four times a year for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College, highlighting innovations in research, clinical practice and education; key events; and accomplishments. News, professional and academic achievements, calendar items and story ideas may be submitted by email to com_pulse@drexel.edu.