The eSOURCE-READINESS ASSESSMENT TOOL (eSRA)

The tool contains questions based on regulations and regulatory agency guidelines for clinical research data sources and should be used to evaluate the suitability of an Investigator Site computerized system to provide data for clinical trials. An eClinical Forum team, comprised of CRAs and Data Managers from different clinical research sponsor organizations and CROs and representatives from sites, has produced the "eSource-Readiness Assessment", otherwise known as "eSRA" for sites to perform a self-assessment of their computerized system's ability to be compliant with clinical research regulations.

Clinical research draws on a combination of data collected during a clinical trial and historical medical information relating to the research subject(s). Many of the data points needed for clinical research are originating in Electronic Health Record Systems, making them "eSource" for clinical research. Even if these data points are not used directly from the site's healthcare system, but are re-entered into a Sponsor's system for a clinical trial, the source of the information (the healthcare system) must still be confirmed as compliant with standards set forth in clinical research regulations and applicable guidance documents.

The eSRA Questionnaire Version 2024 can be downloaded as part of the eSRA Handbook below.  (This version incorporates changes based on the EMA Guideline on computerised systems and electronic data in clinical trials.)

Notice to those intending to include eSRA in their own materials: Copyrighted by the eClinical Forum 2024. The eClinical Forum keeps all rights of this material. Please see the License for Fair Use in the eSRA Handbook and “Implementing eSRA” Guide. We welcome eSRA to be used in other formats, however, it is required that eSRA text be used exactly, that all eSRA questions are included, that your use of eSRA is updated when eCF eSRA is updated, and that eClinical Forum is notified in writing and credited. By using these materials, you acknowledge the terms and conditions for use.  The eClinical Forum is only responsible for the eSRA materials as distributed via the eClinical Forum website. If using the eCF form, downloaded from this website, in it's original format, there is no need to notify eCF.

Stay Current!!

As new regulations are released or updated, the eClinical Forum will evaluate if the eSRA questions should be updated. To be notified of future releases of the eSRA Questionnaire, please send an email to eSRA@eClinicalForum.org. Your email address will not be used for purposes other than to inform you of updates to eSRA.

Sponsors & CROS -- Please take our very brief survey regarding how you are using eSRA.  This will help us improve eSRA. Survey link: eCF eSRA Survey (eclinicalforum.org) THANK YOU!!!

Do we keep a list of sites that have completed eSRAs?

We have frequently been asked if we can provide a list of which sites have already completed an eSRA. Due to privacy laws in different countries, eClinical Forum does not keep such a list. We supply the eSRA questionnaire, free of charge, to anyone who wants to use it. We encourage sponsors to keep a list for themselves of which sites they have received a completed eSRA from. We encourage sites to store their completed eSRA in a central location (such as their IT department) so that other groups within the same organization / using the same electronic healthcare system, can use the completed eSRA as a basis to complete their own eSRA.

eSRA RESOURCES – Scroll to see all resources

eCF Views & News

Published on 01 October 2025

eCF Views & News

October 2025

eCF Views: Your friends in eCF want to know your opinion! 

  • The use of “should” in documents from FDA and EMA – does its meaning differ?
  • What is the meaning of “Direct Access” pertaining to site systems?
  • Are your study sites objecting to downloading patient data at the end of the study?
  • Or...what are YOU wondering about??  Just  login to the  Discussion Forums (eclinicalforum.org)  … You will need a member account to login … but it’s easy to get one .. anyone from an eCF member organization can register for free via  Home (eclinicalforum.org).

eCF News:

  • eCF 25th Anniversary Fun-Fact: Over the years we’ve had a few weird challenges to/from/during workshops… "Stuck" in California because Airspace closed for 4 days following 9/11, tornado evacuation in Indianapolis, Belgium transit strike, airspace closed due to the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, and then of course a pandemic that halted all in-person workshops ... we’ve been “disaster-free” for 4 years… fingers crossed our good fortune continues!! (But, even with these “events” … we carried on … as is evidenced by our 25 years!!)
  • Looking for fun photos from over our 25 years!  We like to celebrate all the moments! Photos from all years welcome! Please send to Wolfgang or Suzanne. Thanks!!
  • Our Autumn workshops are filling up!! Agendas and registration information have been sent out via email.Each eCF member company has seats allocated according to their membership type and how many they have already used this year. Please contact your eCF Primary Rep to use a seat (or contact us if you don’t know who this is…). We look forward to seeing you!!
    • Oct 21-23 in Indianapolis, hosted by Eli Lilly. By the time you read this… we may be out of seats! Contact Suzanne for more information.
    • Nov 4-6 in London, hosted by Medidata  This workshop will also be live-streamed which provides unlimited (and gratis!) access to all eCF members around the globe. To register for either in-person or live-stream: Hybrid Workshop London 4-6 November 2025. An agenda will be sent to you so you can select the live-stream sessions you would like to attend.
    • Nov 13-14 in Tokyo, hosted by Kyowa Kirin. To register: Workshop APAC 13 - 14 November 2025
  • The eCF ATRA (Audit Trail Review Analytics) team has released their paper “Strategies for Implementing Audit Trail Review: Industry Position Paper” as an eCF-Members-Only release. It is stored in the Members section of our website (un/pw needed for access) in: Document Repository in the folder “Members-only Document Releases”. It will be available for exclusive use by eCF members for 6 months … during which time, eCF members can provide feedback to the team by contacting Jana.Summa@eclinicalforum.org. A webinar on this topic was given on Sept 25 and the recording can be reviewed in the Members area: Webinar Recordings. A huge Congratulations to this team – they went from a pop-up topic at a workshop to a full team producing an industry position paper in 1.5 years. The webinar drew much interest – participants from 31 different eCF member companies in 24 different countries! This team will continue their work with reviewing different vendor solutions. eCF vendor members can register to present a case study to the team via this link: Presentation eCF ATRA Vendor Workshops. Anyone interested in seeing the vendor case studies can register via this link: Participation eCF ATRA Vendor Workshops. We are looking forward to having our members start to use this document and provide feedback to the team. Feedback can be sent to Jana.Summa@eclinicalforum.org
  • Is your company using eSRA? (if so… you are in good company!!). Our e-Site System Readiness Assessments (eSRA Forms for e-Source and e-File systems) have … just in the past 5 months … been viewed almost 7700 times!! The Japanese version (available only for the past 3 months) has been viewed over 2000 times. Check it out here: Site Sys Assmts.
  • The FDA, in collaboration with CTTI, is hosting a free hybrid public workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Drug and Biological Product Development” on Oct 7, 2025 from 9am-5pm EDT. For more information or to register: Meeting Registration - Zoom
  • The AI/ML team (joint with EUCROF) will be reviewing TrialKey, a SaaS platform that helps design and validate clinical trials on Friday, Oct 17 at 9am EST/1500 CEST. To participate and get on the AI/ML distribution list, please contact Suzanne.Bishop@eclinicalforum.org

eCF Views & News is a monthly newsletter of the eClinical Forum (www.eclinicalforum.org) to keep our members informed. Please feel free to forward this email to your colleagues. Please let us know if colleague(s) want to be added to this monthly distribution!

Your eCF facilitators are always interested in what you have to say … Suzanne.Bishop@eClinicalForum.org, Wolfgang.Summa@eClinicalForum.org, Sean.Higashio@eClinicalForum.org, Jana.Summa@eClinicalForum.org

Comments (0)Number of views (47)
Print