This repository is designed for clinicians to submit research proposals for analysis using our ICU database. Our data science team will review your proposals and help you conduct high-quality clinical research.
- Go to the Issues tab of this repository
- Click the green "New issue" button
- Choose the "Clinical Study Proposal" template
- This will open a structured form for you to fill out
- Complete all required fields in the web form
- Provide as much detail as possible - this helps us give you better support
- Use the examples provided as guidance
- Click "Submit new issue"
- You'll receive a confirmation and tracking number
- Our team will respond within 5 business days
- Initial Review (1-2 days): We review your proposal for completeness
- Data Availability Check (2-3 days): We verify that required data exists
- Clarification Meeting (if needed): We may schedule a brief meeting to discuss details
- Proposal Approval: We'll create a project timeline and begin analysis
- Regular Updates: You'll receive progress updates throughout the analysis
Our database contains comprehensive data from multiple ICUs at University Hospital Münster, including:
- Age, gender, admission diagnoses...
- Comorbidities and medical history
- Severity scores (APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS II)
- Vital signs (continuous monitoring)
- Laboratory values (blood gas, chemistry, hematology)
- Fluid balance and renal function
- Mechanical ventilation parameters
- Medication administration (vasopressors, antibiotics, sedatives)
- Procedures and devices (dialysis, ECMO, catheters)
- ICU and hospital length of stay
- Mortality (ICU, hospital, 28-day, 90-day)...
- Discharge disposition
Data available from 2001-present (continuously updated)
- Define exact time points (e.g., "within 6 hours of ICU admission")
- Specify measurement windows for variables
- Consider longitudinal vs. single time-point analysis
- Use precise medical terminology
- Specify units of measurement
- Define clinical criteria clearly
- Start with focused research questions
- Consider sample size requirements
- Plan for potential confounders
- Explain why the question matters for patient care
- Connect to clinical guidelines or controversies
- Consider practical implementation of findings
Data Science Team
- Lead: Dr. Christian Porschen
- Response Time: Within 5 business days
For Urgent Requests: Email project Lead directly with "URGENT" in the subject line
- View our published research using this database
- See example study designs and methodologies
- Clinical biostatistics guide
- Sample size calculation tools
- Consultation available for complex analyses
- All analyses follow institutional review board (IRB) guidelines
- Patient data is de-identified and secure
- Researchers must comply with data use agreements
✅ Retrospective cohort studies
✅ Case-control studies
✅ Clinical prediction models
✅ Quality improvement analyses
✅ Epidemiological studies
✅ Machine learning applications
✅ Survival analyses
✅ Time-series analyses
Q: Do I need programming skills? A: No! Our data science team handles all technical aspects. You provide clinical expertise.
Q: How long does analysis take? A: Simple analyses: 2-4 weeks. Complex studies: 2-3 months. We'll give you a timeline after review.
Q: Can I get raw data? A: We provide analysis results and visualizations. Raw data access requires special approval.
Q: What about publications? A: We support manuscript preparation and are happy to be co-authors on publications.
Q: Is there a cost? A: Internal collaborations are typically free. External collaborations may have associated costs.
Ready to start? Submit your proposal here!