When the research process involves many steps, regulations, and functions, the need for structure and overview becomes crucial. At the Uppsala University Hospital, they have taken a holistic approach to research support through the Research Compass, a digital portal in InfoCaption that collects all relevant information. Among the guides on the portal is Research Support for Clinical Researchers and Research Support Staff, which provides clear, coherent support throughout the research process.

The guide is built around a visual, clickable workflow that shows the process's phases and helps the user understand what needs to be done, when, and in what order. The workflow provides a quick overview of the research process and shows which elements can be handled in parallel and which steps must be completed before a study or trial can begin. This creates security, especially in the early parts of the process, and makes it easier to do the right thing from the start.

Support built on the reality of research

The research process can be complex and involve many elements, from idea development and ethical review to data protection, laws, procedures, archiving and reporting. For both researchers and research support functions, this often means obtaining information from several sources.

The guide is designed to meet that need. By gathering guidance and support in one place, it becomes easier to navigate the process and get the right help at the right stage.

Explanatory content that provides context

Behind each step in the workflow is explanatory content that puts the process in context. This describes the support available for contracts, finance, legal, data management, and archiving, and how the different support functions interact.

The guide also clearly points out contact routes to the appropriate functions, such as the Research Support Unit, UCR, Uppsala Biobank, and other central partners. This allows the user to quickly find the right person and avoids spending time searching for information or the right contact.

A whole that works in practice

The guide is a central part of the Research Compass, the University Hospital's comprehensive portal for research support in InfoCaption. In the Research Compass, the workflow returns as a common navigation support throughout the content, creating recognition and continuity for the user.

By following the same structure across different guides, it becomes easier to orient yourself, whether you are new to the research process or more experienced. At the same time, the guide serves as both an introduction to the research process and ongoing support in everyday life. For new users, the flow provides a safe start and an understanding of the whole, while more experienced researchers and research support functions can quickly find the right information at the right stage.

It is precisely the combination of clear structure, visual and clickable workflow, and explanatory content that makes the guide a valuable support in an otherwise complex process.

Uppsala University Hospital receives the Guide of the Month award

Every month, we at InfoCaption select a Guide of the Month - a guide that we want to highlight a little extra because of the value it creates in the organisation. As a thank-you to the person(s) who created the Guide of the Month, we donate 1,000 SEK each month to Hand in Hand Sweden, which fights poverty by creating more jobs in vulnerable countries. Hand in Hand works with the "help to self-help" model, which is in line with InfoCaption's own mission ", to make it easier for employees to help each other".