Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental MedicineThe MED-connect project aims to enhance the management and analysis of pseudonymized medical research data from clinical trials and other studies involving personal data. Given the growing demand for data-driven research in healthcare, MED-connect addresses a critical gap by providing a GDPR-compliant framework that facilitates the secondary use of harmonized medical data.
In a strategic collaboration of seven Fraunhofer Institutes, led by Fraunhofer ITEM in Regensburg, we aim to develop an innovative platform for medical research data and data research. The platform will serve as a central hub connecting data generated from clinical studies conducted by Fraunhofer and partners from University Medical Centers with a focus on investigator-initiated trials (IIT) and translational research. MED-connect will integrate standardized data from various sources and offer advanced data analysis tools. By this effort, Fraunhofer researchers aim to improve the quality and accessibility of medical data, support collaborations with academic partners and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with a particular focus on therapy selection, drug discovery and development, and provide a robust environment for the improvement, testing, and validation of artificial intelligence tools.
Strategically supported by the Fraunhofer central administration, the project aligns with broader organizational goals. In the first funding period, the project primarily addressed legal issues to ensure compliance with data protection regulations, and prepared the procurement of a foundational software platform. In the second funding period, the project team expects to initiate practical platform implementation and start the processing of initial use cases.
MED-connect aims to generate revenue through participation in clinical studies and strategic partnerships, enhancing research capabilities and fostering collaboration in the healthcare sector, thereby contributing to the advancement of medical research and clinical translation.
