REDCap Project Designer and Data Analyst (REDCAP) is an Advanced Training Course dedicated to the design, management and analysis of clinical and research databases using REDCap, an international platform for electronic data capture. The programme responds to the growing demand for professionals specialized in clinical data management, digital clinical research, healthcare data science and secure data management. The course develops skills to build complex REDCap projects, integrate analysis tools, create dashboards, automate workflows and use generative artificial intelligence in research processes. The objective is to train professionals capable of working in universities, hospitals, CROs, pharmaceutical companies and research centers, contributing to the digital transformation of biomedical research.
The course is delivered entirely online and awards 15 ECTS credits, with online lessons and a personalized Project Work that replaces the internship. The minimum attendance requirement is 70%. The programme covers the entire life cycle of a REDCap project: database design, creation of data dictionaries, management of users, roles and permissions, data collection through forms, questionnaires, longitudinal studies and mobile applications. It explores quality control, automatic validation, multilingual management, use of REDCap Mobile App and MyCap, integration via API and Dynamic SQL, data export and analysis with R, Power BI and Tableau, and the development of dashboards and interactive reports. One part of the course is dedicated to generative AI to automate processes, classify texts, produce summaries and support research workflows. GDPR, Good Clinical Practice, audit trail, security, interoperability and regulatory requirements for clinical research are also covered.
The course is aimed at graduates and professionals in the healthcare, biomedical, statistical, IT, pharmaceutical, engineering and clinical research sectors. It is suitable for data managers, clinical research coordinators, biostatisticians, researchers, hospital and university staff, professionals from CROs, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions and organizations involved in health data management. Upon completion, participants will be able to design and administer complex REDCap projects, ensure data quality, security and traceability, configure web and mobile data collection, integrate business intelligence tools, create dashboards and automate data management processes. The acquired skills can be applied in universities, hospitals, research centers, life sciences industries and organizations investing in digital health, clinical databases, multicenter registries and data valorization for evidence-based decisions.
Module 1: General Overview
Introduction to REDCap, platform architecture, project governance, security, audit trail and data life cycle in clinical research.
Module 2: Project Creation & Navigation
Project creation and configuration, management of development/production environments, users, roles, permissions, Data Access Groups, data quality and multilingual management.
Module 3: Data Collection Approaches
Data collection strategies using forms, online surveys, public links, QR codes, scheduled invitations, longitudinal workflows, follow-up and automatic reminders.
Module 4: REDCap Mobile & MyCap
Use of REDCap Mobile App for offline data collection and MyCap to involve participants in the production of longitudinal data, PROMs and continuous monitoring.
Module 5: Dynamic SQL
Integration with external databases, RESTful APIs, dynamic tables, secure pipelines and automation of information flows in complex ecosystems.
Module 6: Data Analytics Integration
Data export, cleaning and analysis with R, Power BI and Tableau; development of dashboards, interactive reports and tools for clinical decision making.
Module 7: GenAI-based Automation
Applications of generative AI and LLMs for free-text coding, summarization, semantic classification, automatic reports and automation of REDCap processes.
Module 8: Regulatory Framework
GDPR, Good Clinical Practice, informed consent, DPIA, pseudonymization, audit trail, secondary use of data and compliance in clinical and multicenter projects.
The course is developed by a faculty of the University of Padua with expertise in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, medical informatics, data science and artificial intelligence applied to health. The teaching group includes figures involved in the Italian REDCap community and in database design for clinical studies, registries and multicenter projects. This approach allows participants to engage with professionals who work daily in the management of complex health data, biomedical research and the development of digital solutions to improve the quality, traceability and informational value of collected data.
A distinctive feature of the programme is the integration of REDCap, data analysis tools and generative artificial intelligence technologies. The course is not limited to building data collection forms, but explores interoperability with APIs, dynamic SQL, R, Power BI and Tableau, through to the development of dashboards and automated workflows. Participants acquire operational skills to connect clinical databases, business intelligence tools and AI solutions, with attention to security, data quality and concrete applications in clinical research and digital health.
The Project Work replaces the internship and represents the central applied component of the course. Each participant can develop a project consistent with the topics covered, also linked to their own professional or research context, with the support of a dedicated tutor. This activity makes it possible to consolidate skills in REDCap database design, data management, integration with analytical tools and production of outputs useful for clinical studies, registries, multicenter projects or digital health initiatives. The result is an immediately applicable skill set.
The general ranking of merit for the academic year 2025/26 will be published on the Italian page of this Course according to the timing provided in the Call.
Information
FAQ
No. The course introduces the platform from the basics and progressively leads participants toward advanced features such as APIs, Dynamic SQL, dashboards, mobile data collection and automations based on generative AI.
No. As indicated in the Cineca form, the Project Work replaces the internship/traineeship and allows participants to apply the acquired skills to a personalized project with the support of a tutor.
The programme includes the integration of REDCap with R, Power BI and Tableau, as well as the use of APIs, dynamic SQL and interactive dashboards for reporting, monitoring and support for clinical decision making.
Yes. To obtain the qualification, attendance at at least 70% of the online lessons is required, in accordance with the course teaching organization.
The skills are useful in universities, hospitals, research centers, CROs, pharmaceutical companies and organizations that manage clinical databases, registries, multicenter studies and digital health projects.