Exploiting synergies for research and care – DIFUTURE and MIRACUM consortia agree on extensive cooperation

Miracum DIFUTURE logo Englisch

The consortium spokespersons of DIFUTURE, Prof. Dr. Martin Boeker and MIRACUM, Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Prokosch today signed an agreement on the cooperation between the two consortia. The aim of the cooperation is to significantly deepen the successful collaboration between the two scientific consortia that has existed for years; in doing so, synergies are to be created and parallel structures avoided.

The consortia, which are funded under the umbrella of the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII) and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), have defined the following points in their objectives:

Especially in the core competencies of the consortia, a sustainable deepening of the cooperation is aimed at. To this end, we promote regular exchanges between the management and staff of the 17 participating data integration centers (DIZ) to coordinate the tools/IT tools, regulations and practical experience used jointly and across consortia. Equally important are cross-cutting scientific activities, such as the initiation of joint data use projects or the evaluation of clinical application scenarios.

In addition, joint further education and training measures are planned, such as the MIRACUM-DIFUTURE colloquium series, various summer and winter schools, an overarching development of teaching and learning materials, and the implementation of cross-consortium site visits.

Another elementary point is the collaboration with and involvement of patients and patient representatives in the consortia activities and the work of the Data Integration Centers and the Use and Access Committees.

Last but not least, the joint public relations work coordinated across the consortia, e.g. in the form of the MIRACUM-DIFUTURE Journal to be published from 2023 and the MIRACUM-DIFUTURE Symposia to be held annually from now on, will provide a framework for the joint work.