RDCA–DAP nets new data to speed research, therapies for CF
Information generated by Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network
The Rare Disease Cures Accelerator-Data and Analytics Platform — dubbed RDCA–DAP — has received new datasets that promise to accelerate research and the development of new therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF).
The data was generated by the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network (TDN), known for its clinical trials network evaluating the safety and effectiveness of new CF therapies. The TDN is funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and coordinated by the Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
“We deeply value the collaboration with the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network and Seattle Children’s,” Alexandre Bétourné, PhD, executive director at RDCA-DAP, said in a press release. “Enhancing our collective capabilities to tackle CF and reinforcing our platform’s role in accelerating new therapies stands as a pivotal development in our partnership. Integrating these and future datasets into RDCA-DAP marks a crucial advancement in our efforts to effectively combat rare disease.”
What is RDCA-DAP?
The RDCA-DAP, which is run by the nonprofit organization Critical Path Institute (C-Path), is an initiative funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It provides a centralized platform of patient data, including clinical trials, long-term observational studies, patient registries, and real-world data, such as electronic health records, for a number of rare diseases.
By sharing data across members, the RDCA-DAP seeks to accelerate understanding disease progression, contribute to the design of new clinical outcome measures and disease biomarkers, and to develop disease mathematical models and new clinical trial designs.
“These efforts highlight our shared goal to foster innovative treatments for cystic fibrosis. By contributing data from CF research to this powerful platform, we will enable researchers worldwide to access and leverage data that can lead to breakthroughs in CF care,” JP Clancy, MD, senior vice president of clinical research at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, said.
“Innovative study designs utilizing existing data will be needed to advance therapeutic development for rare diseases, including CF, and the RDCA-DAP will be an important platform for supporting trial planning and execution,” said Nicole Mayer Hamblett, PhD, co-executive director, CF Therapeutics Development Network Coordinating Center, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington.
Several organizations have contributed data to the RDCA-DAP, which is then made available to initiative partners. Those interested in joining RDCA-DAP can find more information at C-path’s site online or by writing to [email protected]. The platform is open and accepting applications for use.
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