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Our DRE is Your DRE
When discussing our digital research environment (DRE), a common misconception about trusted research environment (TRE) solutions pertains to ownership and data responsibilities. In fact, most customer data platforms (CDP) operate under the same principles [Parker 2024]. In this article we aim to dispel common misconceptions and shed light on how Aridhia solutions and services are customized and modified. Our customers have full ownership, and have full control of the growth and governance of their DRE solution. This has been the case since the origin of the company and our first implementation at NHS Scotland in 2009.
The Aridhia DRE solution is highly customizable and has been pressure tested in both single institution environments (GOSH/UCL, Royal Marsden Hospital, etc.) and collaborative international research and data sharing ecosystems like the International COVID-19 Data Research Alliance (ICODA), Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative, and Critical Path Institute’s Data and Analytics Platform. Likewise, it is a bespoke solution that looks and feels differently based on the requirements of the organization owning the solution.
Platform Branding
The Aridhia team works closely with our customer partners to brand their DRE to not only ensure that the environment meets their needs, but to let their partners, collaborators, staff and potentially their own customers know that it is their environment owned and governed by the sponsor organization. Aridhia’s early role is often to stand up an initial environment to illustrate the core functionality of the environment which at its simplest is the complement of FAIR and Workspaces services as illustrated in Figure 1 below. Branding goes beyond placing a logo on a webpage and we’ll explain the various mechanisms by which we assist in branding and customizing each DRE and what options are available.
Figure 1: Overview of DRE FAIR and Workspaces services
Detailed examples can be found on the Aridhia website along with published examples of solution implementations.
Branding is the process of creating and disseminating the brand name, its qualities and personality. Branding could be applied to an entire corporate identity as well as to individual products and services or concepts. Custom branding allows you to create landing pages and interfaces that align with your organization’s processes and community. This can enhance user experience by providing a familiar and cohesive look and feel, making it easier for users to navigate and engage with the platform.
White-label solutions often come with the flexibility to scale as your organization grows. You can add new features, integrate with other tools, and customize the platform to meet evolving needs without starting from scratch.
When users see your organization’s branding, it can build trust and credibility. This is particularly important in a secure digital research environment where data privacy and security are paramount. Custom branding reassures users that they are in a trusted space.
Figure 2: Example of a customizable landing page for your DRE community
Customization
In addition to branding, the DRE is highly configurable and comes with built-in tools to customize the platform to your community’s needs. Whether that’s sending notifications, generating reports, or managing user permissions. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of human error, ensuring that processes are consistent and reliable.
Streamlining approval processes to match your organization’s workflows also helps to significantly improve efficiency. Customizable automated approval workflows ensure that research proposals, data access requests, and other critical actions are reviewed and approved promptly, reducing bottlenecks and enhancing productivity.
Figure 3: Automated data governance and access are fully customizable (Click to expand)
Implementing a white-label solution is often more cost-effective than developing a custom solution from the ground up. It allows you to leverage existing technology while tailoring it to your specific needs and allows you to take advantage of robust security features and compliance certifications, ensuring that your data is protected and that you meet industry standards.
Aridhia has great experience with a diversity of customers with very specific requirements that often change over time. There is occasionally a need to halt or pause operation of a customer environment for a time to accommodate these changing needs. Aridhia can likewise assist with the “decommission or archival process” as needed.
Authors
Kara joined Aridhia in 2020 and leads the Customer Projects team as Head of Customer Success where she works closely with clients to deliver valuable solutions on the DRE. Kara leads with a commitment to understanding and addressing customer needs and fostering a customer-centric culture at Aridhia. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and taking road trips with her family and labradoodle, Wilson.
Dr. Jeff Barrett is the Chief Science Officer at Aridhia promoting healthcare and life science partners to collaborate, access and share secure data to deliver better patient outcomes. Before Aridhia, he was Senior Vice-President at the Critical Path Institute serving as the Executive Director of the Rare Disease Cures Accelerator, Data Analytics Platform. Jeff was previously Head of Quantitative Sciences at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Prior to MRI, he was Vice President, of Translational Informatics at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. Jeff spent 10+ years at the University of Pennsylvania where he was Professor, Paediatrics and Director, Laboratory for Applied PK/PD at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.