Database Sharing System for Clinical Trial Investigators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pharmaceutical companies face challenges in selecting clinical trial investigators due to limited proprietary records, restricting their ability to choose from a broader pool of experienced investigators and hindering efficient project timeline predictions and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for sharing access to a database of clinical trial investigator records across multiple users, allowing permission-based access and retention of control over proprietary data, while enabling a unified or distributed database query mechanism using Structured Query Language (SQL) queries over a network, with sharing rules and volume restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmaceutical companies maintain proprietary records of clinical trial investigators, then data control and security are improved, but the pool of accessible investigators is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments database records by ownership, creating distinct owner-specific subsets while maintaining a unified query interface. Each company's investigator records remain segregated and controlled by their owner, yet the system enables cross-company querying through structured permission mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between data control and pool accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary query resolution mechanism that mediates between data owners and requesting companies. This intermediary layer evaluates permission rules, determines accessible records, and returns results without exposing underlying data structures or ownership details, enabling broad access while maintaining control
2Loss of information
If companies share their investigator records with other companies, then the investigator pool and information availability are improved, but control over proprietary data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The permission system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. Companies can modify their sharing rules at any time, adding or removing companies from their permission lists without restructuring the entire database system. This dynamic approach enables flexible information sharing while maintaining straightforward control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of permission rules for each company-recipient pair. Instead of physically sharing data or creating complex many-to-many relationship structures, the system generates permission rule copies that reference the original owner's records, simplifying permission management while enabling broad access
3Speed
If a unified database structure is used to enable cross-company queries, then query efficiency and access speed are improved, but data ownership and control mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The query resolution system performs self-service by automatically evaluating permission rules and filtering records based on ownership and sharing permissions. The system independently determines which records to return without requiring manual intervention or complex external permission verification, maintaining fast query performance while managing ownership control
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for sharing access to a database of records relating to clinical trial investigators amongst a number of users is disclosed. Each record includes a number of data fields associated with a clinical trial investigator and has associated metadata indicating a record owner. The method comprises: a) receiving a database query from a first user; b) resolving the query using a first subset of the records in the database including only those records for which the associated metadata indicates that the record owner is the first user and those records for which the associated metadata indicates that the record owner is another user which has registered a sharing rule in respect of the first user, whereby the first user is granted permission to access its records; and c) generating a result set including only those records used to resolve the query that satisfy the query.