Data Collection and Management for Clinical Research (EPI 218)

Data Collection and Management for Clinical Research (EPI 218)

Summer 2026 (2 units)

All research studies must securely store data, query it, and prepare it for statistical analysis. Many research studies will also collect new data. Commonly used spreadsheet applications (such as Microsoft Excel)  are inadequate for these tasks.

The course prepares students to begin their own research data collection and management securely, efficiently, and accurately.  It introduces the theory of relational database management systems (RDBMSs) used by virtually all major commercial database systems. It also gives students practical, hands-on experience in developing research data systems using REDCap (a web-based data capture system) and Microsoft Access (the world's most popular desktop RDBMS), as well as moving and converting data between systems.  Students will survey many of the advanced features of REDCap and Access and see why researchers should nearly always choose true database applications for collecting and managing their research data. 

For many students, this course will be a first introduction to UCSF's secure cloud computing environment, the Research Analysis Environment (RAE).  R is included at an introductory level.

Online Syllabus

Objectives

The objectives for this course are for participants to:

  • Comprehend the basics of the Relational Database Model, including key concepts such as tables, records, fields, data types, relationships, and primary/foreign keys.
  • Develop simple but useful data collection systems using REDCap.
  • Execute the basics of querying a multi-table, relational database using SQL.
  • Prepare (and budget) for data management in a research study.
Prerequisites

None

Faculty
Format

Each week, for seven weeks, curricular material is introduced with a lecture and an assignment in which students apply the material. Weekly computer lab sessions give students the opportunity to practice, ask questions, and interact with course faculty.

Lectures: Thursdays, 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM, July 16 through August 27, 2026.
In-person lectures, providing an overview of the curricular material for the week, are given 10:15 - 11:15 AM every Thursday at Mission Hall, beginning Thursday, July 17. A recording of the lecture is available on the course's syllabus and can be viewed by students who are unable to attend in person.

Computer Labs: Thursdays, 11:15 AM to 12:15 AM, July 16 through August 27, 2026.
The computer lab is held from 11:15 AM to 12:15 AM every Thursday at Mission Hall, beginning July 16. Most students use the lab session to complete the weekly assignment, either individually or in groups. Course faculty are available during the lab session to address questions on the assignment or on any aspect of the curriculum. Although lab attendance is highly recommended, students may complete the weekly assignments without attending the corresponding lab session.

All course materials and handouts will be posted on the course's online syllabus.

Materials

"Chapter 16: Data Management" by MA Kohn and TB Newman in Designing Clinical Research (5th ed.) Browner, WS et al. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2022.

Books may be purchased either through the publisher or a variety of commercial venues (e.g., Amazon.com).

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Access will be used for several assignments. MS Access is not available for the Mac, but version 2016 or higher can be used on the PC. For students who do not already own MS Access, it can be used via the UCSF RAE (Research Analysis Environment, formerly called MyResearch), which is a secure data hosting service for UCSF researchers. In addition to providing secure, HIPAA-compliant storage for research study data, RAE provides remote-desktop access to several applications including Microsoft Access. We will provide enrolled EPI 218 students with a streamlined process for obtaining an RAE account. By the first computer lab in the course, you should have tested your RAE account and ensured that you can log in.

REDCap

REDCap is a web-based research data collection system developed by an academic consortium based at Vanderbilt University. REDCap enables researchers to build browser-based data entry forms, surveys, and surveys with attached private data entry forms. The survey builder is similar to SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics. REDCap is typically only available through institutions, and this course will use the instance of REDCap maintained by UCSF Academic Research Systems.  We will provide students enrolled in EPI 218 with instructions for obatining a REDCap account with your RAE account.   You must have a functional REDCap log-in prior to the 2nd session of the course.

 

Grading

Weekly Assignments
The course has six weekly assignments. As students work through the instructions, they complete an online quiz or create files for upload to the course syllabus site. The six assignments are worth 60% of the final course grade.  

Final Project

The final project has two parts: Generation of research study data collection and management system that you have built; and creation of a brief data collection and management plan The final project is worth 40% of the course grade.

Official UCSF transcripts are not available for individual courses taken within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.  Students not in full-year TICR Programs who satisfactorily pass all course requirements will, upon request, receive a Certificate of Course Completion

Only UCSF students (defined as individuals enrolled in UCSF degree or certificate programs) will receive academic credit for courses. Official transcripts are available to UCSF students only. A Certificate of Course Completion will be available upon request to individuals who are not UCSF students and satisfactorily pass all course requirements.

UCSF Graduate Division Policy on Disabilities

To Enroll