Nonclinical Topics – Project Volunteer Board

Interested in joining one of the Nonclinical Topics Working Group Projects? The projects below welcome new volunteers.

Project Scope:

A computational pipeline to build models to predict target organs of toxicity from SEND datasets has been developed and published on GitHub under PHUSE. Project team members will evaluate the feasibility and performance of this pipeline when run on data from within their organisations. The pipeline will be updated to improve compatibility with different database systems, and efforts will be made to improve its performance across disparate data sources. Additional study interpretations – e.g. adversity of findings, NOAEL determination, clinical translatability, structure activity relationship – will be explored for development of predictive models. Successful modeling approaches will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journal articles.

Current Status:

• Presentations at upcoming meetings of predictive modelling projects currently being pursued by members.

Regular Project Meeting Day/Time:

• Bi-weekly: Thursdays 16:00-17:00 GMT

Key Skills: (currently being reviewed by WG Leads)

• Experience with modelling endpoints

• Experience with target organ prediction models developed by the FDA

• Experience with SEND datasets

Project Scope:

This project is to evolve the Nonclinical Study Data Reviewer's Guide (nSDRG), based on comments from a public PHUSE review, plus to adapt it to updates of the FDA Technical Conformance Guide. The project continues to check and align with the SDRG template and guide developed by the Optimizing the Use of Data Standards Working Group for clinical studies.

Preparation of a Study Data Reviewer’s Guide (SDRG) is recommended as an integral part of a CDISC standards-compliant study data submission. The challenge is to operationalise this new documentation requirement efficiently and effectively.

Challenges we seek to answer with this project:

• Provide a practical template for easy access and use

• Provide guidance document which describes expected content and options to guide nonclinical SDRG authors.

• Provide authors with examples, describing how to handle different data situations with SDRG content.

Things we expect to learn along the way:

• Exploration of ways to generate the nonclinical SDRG and who should do the job.

• The SDRG is expected to be useful by FDA reviewers. Can it also be useful for other nonclinical study stakeholders?

• Will the SDRG evolve as systems and processes gain expertise in the new SEND requirements for submission of nonclinical data?

Current Status:

• FDA review of next version nSDRG – draft pending.

Regular Project Meeting Day/Time:

• Monthly: Last Thursday of the month 16:00-17:00 GMT

Key Skills: (currently being reviewed by WG Leads)

• Experience with the SDRG

• Knowledge on the FDA's Technical Conformance Guide

Project Scope:

Execute an annual survey process to objectively collect data that enables detection of impactful issues and trends (both good and bad) that can be acted upon by the PHUSE community

The survey will:

• provide SDOs with actionable information regarding improvements to their standards.

• enable CROs, software developers and data service providers, with extensive data management experience, an opportunity to provide actionable recommendations

• provide Sponsors with information on how they can better leverage their SEND investments.

Results of the survey will be presented at the PHUSE/FDA CSS. 

Current Status:

• Distributed 2025 SEND Survey. Analysis and presentation of survey results will continue through May 2025.

Regular Project Meeting Day/Time:

• Bi-weekly: Thursdays 14:00-15:00 GMT

Key Skills: (currently being reviewed by WG Leads)

• Collaboration with other industry leaders 

• Critical thinking of current and key SEND topics

• Knowledge of upcoming changes in the nonclinical industry 

• Experience with other industry groups and forums

Project Scope:

The 4-day SEND Coding Bootcamp aims to help those working with SEND datasets become more productive by teaching basic coding and plotting skills. Over the course of a series of separate hands-on coding sessions, participants will learn the basics of programming and plotting using the R programming language. The course will be oriented around SEND datasets and will include reading, writing, plotting, and manipulating SEND datasets stored in .xptformat. Basic knowledge of the SEND standard is expected. No previous knowledge about programming or the R programming language is needed.

Current Status:

• New project accepted

• Currently calling for volunteers 

Regular Project Meeting Day/Time:

• Leads to confirm

Key Skills: (currently being reviewed by WG Leads)