Study relationship types

Clinical research studies may relate to each other, forming clusters of inter-related research. Being able to store these relationships allows the MDR to identify studies related to those already selected by a user, and thus help in finding relevant material.

The relationship types were all developed by ECRIN, and relate to relationships found particularly within clinical research. In almost all cases they come in related pairs, allowing both ‘views’ of a relationship.

id	name	description	source
11	Is a sub-study of	A sub-study or sub-protocol undertaken at the same time as the main study.	ECRIN
12	Includes as a sub-study	Has as a sub-study or sub-protocol, undertaken at the same time as the main study.	ECRIN
13	Is in the same series as	Study in a sequence that began with the target study (excluding feasibility studies).	ECRIN
14	Is the first of a sequence including	Study that began a sequence (excluding feasibility studies), that included the referenced study.	ECRIN
15	Is a feasibility study for	A feasibility or pilot study for the referenced study.	ECRIN
16	Is preceded by the feasibility study	A study preceded by the referenced feasibility or pilot study.	ECRIN
17	Is a later phase variant of	For trials using the phase I to IV classification, is a later phase continuation of the referenced study.	ECRIN
18	Is an earlier phase variant of	For trials using the phase I to IV classification, is an earlier phase precursor to the referenced study.	ECRIN
19	Is a continuation of	A study that uses some or all of the same subject population as the referenced study.	ECRIN
20	Is continued by	A study where some or all of the same subject population were targeted in the referenced study.	ECRIN
21	Is a repeat of	A study that uses a different population and the same or similar protocol as the earlier referenced study.	ECRIN
22	Is repeated by	A study that is repeated by the referenced study, which has the same or similar protocol but uses a different population.	ECRIN
23	has an expanded access version	A study that has the referenced study as an expanded access version, for people who cannot enrol in the trial but who may benefit from the product under investigation.	ECRIN (ClinicalTrials.gov)
24	is an expanded access version of	A study that is expanded access version of the referenced study, catering for people who cannot enrol in the trial but who may benefit from the product under investigation.	ECRIN (ClinicalTrials.gov)
25	Includes target as one of a group of studies	Includes the target study, which is not registered independently. Instead it shares this registry entry with one or more other non-registered studies.	ECRIN (BioLINCC)
26	Is included within target (group of studies)	Is registered in another registry as one of two or more studies sharing the target study's registry entry and id.	ECRIN (BioLINCC)
27	Has link listed in registry but nature unclear	Is linked to the target study within the registry entry, but nature of the linkage not clear.	ECRIN
0	Not yet known	Dummy value supplied by default on entity creation.	ECRIN