Building a Global Scientific Network

When researchers can access reliable, comparable data from colleagues around the world, it broadens their scope of discovery. This is one of the reasons CHAMPS believes harmonized data collection and broad knowledge sharing are critical pathways to identifying new and effective solutions for child mortality.

Harmonizing Data Collection

It is challenging to standardize data and specimen collection procedures across a network of diverse sites. Nevertheless a certain degree of standardization is needed to allow efficient data sharing between research sites around the world. CHAMPS harmonization efforts incorporate the following elements:

• Coordination Across Sites – Standardized protocols, consent forms, questionnaires, specimen collection kits, and access to a centralized database are provided to CHAMPS sites. Additionally, CHAMPS promotes cross-site collaboration by hosting conference calls and meetings where all sites are represented.
• Protocols – Specialized protocols for each data collection component of CHAMPS are used to promote consistent quality and standardization. This includes SOPs for specimen-related processes, including collection, processing, short-term storage and shipment.
• Trainings – CHAMPS-specific trainings are designed to cover all aspects of data collection and management, including eligibility and screening; adverse events reporting; clinical data abstraction and specimen collection; processing; and shipping.
• Specimen Collection – Prepared kits of collection supplies developed for each specimen type provide straight-forward, accurate data collection and protect participant privacy. Samples are processed and stored to ensure specimen stability, and are tracked from the point of collection to archival storage using a sophisticated barcode system.
• Centralized Data Management System – A customized, centralized, web-based specimen tracking system provides a single view of multiple specimen types with clinical and demographic data. It also tracks data collected at CHAMPS collection sites and maintains audit trails of all activities while supporting reporting requirements.

Knowledge Sharing

CHAMPS makes its data and specimens available to investigators with diverse interests, enabling groundbreaking research to understand normal and abnormal pregnancies, perinatal illnesses, and the specific pathogens that contribute to child deaths.

CHAMPS Protocols for Download

CHAMPS Social Behavioral Science Protocol v1.0

CHAMPS Mortality Surveillance Protocol v1.3

CHAMPS Manual 1.o

CHAMPS Determination of Cause of Death (DeCoDe) Diagnosis Standards 1.0