Review

Developing a conceptual framework for an evaluation system for the NIAID HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks

Jonathan M Kagan¹ , Mary Kane² , Kathleen M Quinlan² , Scott Rosas² and William MK Trochim³

¹  Division of Clinical Research, NIAID/NIH, 6700 B Rockledge Drive, Room 1102, MSC 7609, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7609, USA

²  Concept Systems, Inc, 136 East State St, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA

³  Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell Office for Research on Evaluation, Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4401, USA

author email corresponding author email

Health Research Policy and Systems 2009, 7:12doi:10.1186/1478-4505-7-12

Published:	21 May 2009

Abstract

Globally, health research organizations are called upon to re-examine their policies and practices to more efficiently and effectively address current scientific and social needs, as well as increasing public demands for accountability.

Through a case study approach, the authors examine an effort undertaken by the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (part of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services, United States Government) to develop an evaluation system for its recently restructured HIV/AIDS clinical trials program. The challenges in designing, operationalizing, and managing global clinical trials programs are considered in the context of large scale scientific research initiatives.

Through a process of extensive stakeholder input, a framework of success factors was developed that enables both a prospective view of the elements that must be addressed in an evaluation of this research and a current state assessment of the extent to which the goals of the restructuring are understood by stakeholders across the DAIDS clinical research networks.