National Library of Medicine

January 13, 2020: National Library of Medicine Launches a Modernization of ClinicalTrials.gov

Posted on by Gina Uhlenbrauck

As the National Library of Medicine (NLM) celebrates 20 years of ClinicalTrials.gov, a new multi-year initiative is underway to modernize and enhance the user experience of this public resource. To that end, NLM is seeking actionable input through a Request for Information (RFI) and will hold an informational webinar for stakeholders as well as a public meeting:

  • Request for Information due March 14, 2020.
  • Webinar on the modernization effort for all stakeholders January 22, 3:30-4:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar.
  • Save the date for a public meeting planned for April 30, 2020, at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

“ClinicalTrials.gov is the world’s largest public clinical research registry and results database, giving patients, families, health care providers, researchers, and others easy access to information on clinical studies relating to a wide range of diseases and conditions.” –NLM’s Musings from the Mezzanine blog.

New Research Tool: Using the RxNorm System

Posted on by Gina Uhlenbrauck

Tools for ResearchA new research tool available on the Living Textbook provides an overview of RxNorm and explores the application of some of its associated tools in the research setting. RxNorm is a free, publicly available resource from the National Library of Medicine that provides “normalized” names and unique identifiers that make it possible to clearly identify a given drug. This allows information about medications to be exchanged across electronic health records (EHRs). In fact, the Office of the National Coordinator designated use of RxNorm as a criterion for EHR certification of interoperability and Stage 2 Meaningful Use.

The explanatory resource was developed by Michelle Smerek of the NIH Collaboratory’s Phenotypes, Data Standards, and Data Quality Core (now the Electronic Health Records Core). Feedback is encouraged to help expand this tool.