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

Public release of the "Requirements for Electronic Data for Regulated Clinical Trials" (commonly referred to as the “eCF Requirements”)

Published on 15 July 2024

Public release of the "Requirements for Electronic Data for Regulated Clinical Trials" (commonly referred to as the “eCF Requirements”)

Public Release PR2023.3

What expectations do FDA, EMA, PMDA, MNPA, MHRA and ICH put on your e-clinical systems … and how can you easily keep an eye on them as they change?   Happily for you – the eClinical Forum is releasing its 7th public version of the “eCF Requirements” which takes all of the requirements and guidance directions that pertain to electronic data and electronic systems that support clinical research, from these regulatory authorities, and boils them down into 37 statements for you to follow. Each eCF Requirement is “held up” by a series of mappings to the regulatory authority documents. The eCF Requirements can be used to determine if systems that handle data which will become part of a regulated clinical trial are consistent with regulatory requirements and if systems and process that manage these data have the necessary features.

The eClinical Forum is releasing this version (V2023.3PR) as a service to the eClinical Community.  This particular version is a significant update from the previous version as it incorporates all the many requirements from the EMA Guideline on computerised systems and electronic data in clinical trials (Effective Sept 2023). The V2024, recently released, is available to eClinical Forum members only. For information on becoming an eClinical Forum member, please see our Membership tab on this website.

This is a significant accomplishment by the eClinical Forum’s “Regulatory Expert Group” (REG) as they have put in countless hours over many years to be able to produce such a comprehensive list of compliance requirements for evaluating electronic systems that will manage data used in regulated clinical research against regulations and guidances from around the globe. This work is a result of the vast experience of the REG members who come from a variety of different eCF Member companies. They have spent hours debating each regulation or guidance and how to word the eCF Requirements to correctly meet the needs in the regulatory documents.  If any one company were to undertake such a project, the hours spent would justify an eClinical Forum membership very quickly. For this reason, the eCF Requirements V2024 is released to eClinical Forum members only, with the V2023.3 now being released to the public.

A free public webinar to discuss how these "eCF Requirements" are being used the industry, will be presented on Sept 18, 2024. For more information: eCF Public Webinar Sept 2024 (eclinicalforum.org)

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