REDCap - Research Electronic Data Capture

Service Description

Overview

REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies and operations. It provides an intuitive interface for users to build and manage online surveys and databases while maintaining the highest standards of data security and integrity.

Who Can Use REDCap?

REDCap is available to:

  • UNC IRB-approved research requiring compliant data collection tools
  • UNC Researchers and Principal Investigators conducting academic, clinical, or translational research studies
  • UNC Faculty members managing research projects and data collection initiatives
  • UNC Graduate students working on research projects under faculty supervision
  • Clinical staff involved in patient registries, quality improvement projects, and clinical research
  • Administrative staff supporting research operations and data management

Important Note: If you are affiliated with UNC Health (not UNC-Chapel Hill), please contact UNC Health IT for information about data collection tools available to you.

Purpose and Use Cases

REDCap is designed for:

  • Clinical and translational research studies requiring secure patient data collection
  • Survey distribution and management for research participants or study populations
  • Longitudinal data collection tracking participants over time
  • Multi-site collaborative studies with distributed research teams
  • Quality improvement projects and operational databases
  • Grant-required data management meeting NIH and other funding agency standards
  • Patient registries and cohort studies
  • Data entry and management replacing paper forms and spreadsheets

Key Features

Data Collection and Management

  • Customizable forms and surveys with drag-and-drop form builder
  • Data validation rules to ensure data quality at the point of entry
  • Branching logic for conditional display of questions based on previous responses
  • Calculated fields for automatic computation of values
  • Multiple data types including text, numbers, dates, drop-downs, radio buttons, and checkboxes
  • File upload capability for storing documents and images

Survey Distribution

  • Public survey links for open distribution
  • Personalized survey invitations with unique participant links
  • Automated survey reminders via email
  • Survey queue for scheduling multiple surveys per participant
  • Mobile-responsive design for completion on any device
  • Multi-language support for international studies

Data Analysis and Export

  • Real-time data reporting with customizable reports and dashboards
  • Statistical analysis exports compatible with SPSS, SAS, Stata, and R
  • Data export tools in multiple formats (CSV, Excel, XML)
  • Descriptive statistics and data quality reports
  • Graphical data visualization tools

Advanced Capabilities

  • Randomization module for assigning participants to study arms
  • Calendar and scheduling for participant appointments and follow-ups
  • Data entry triggers for automated actions based on data conditions
  • API access for programmatic data integration
  • Longitudinal data collection with repeating events and instruments
  • Double data entry for enhanced accuracy verification

Security and Compliance

  • HIPAA compliant infrastructure for protected health information
  • Role-based access control with granular user permissions
  • Audit trails tracking all data changes and user activities
  • Data encryption both in transit and at rest
  • (Coming soon) Secure authentication with UNC single sign-on integration
  • (Coming soon) 21 CFR Part 11 compliant for FDA-regulated research

Collaboration Features

  • Multi-site projects with data access groups
  • User rights management with fine-grained permission controls
  • Project templates for standardizing data collection across studies
  • Data dictionary documentation for transparency and reproducibility

Support and Training

  • Technical support from institutional REDCap administrators
  • (Coming soon) Training resources for UNC REDCap users in UNC Help

Getting Started

If you're ready to begin using REDCap for your research, click the Create a New Project button on the right to request a new REDCap project, copy an existing project, or access the training environment. For support with your current projects—such as making project modifications, requesting API tokens, or asking general questions—use the Edit an Existing Project button. Our team is here to help you make the most of REDCap's data collection and management capabilities.