Networking of General Medicine Research Practices to be Supported with up to 21 Million Euros

The DESAM-ForNet initiative is coordinated by the German Foundation for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DESAM) and the Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research (TMF). The central coordination office creates common communication structures and supports networking and exchange as well as sustainable cooperation between the regional networks.

Strengthening Collaboration between General Practitioners and University Hospitals

The BMBF funding measure also aims to strengthen collaboration between general practitioners and their practice teams with universities or university hospitals. For this purpose, (inter-)regional networks of general practitioner research practices with links to the general medicine institutes of medical faculties are being established or expanded. After the structural setup, the functionality of these networks will be tested in pilot studies. The long-term goal is to conduct supra-regional clinical research studies in up to 1,700 primary care practices nationwide.

On December 3, 2020, a kick-off workshop with international experts was held in the form of a video conference. The six regional networks and the coordinating office presented their concepts and reported on the joint workgroups. With active participation from international experts (from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Scotland, Sweden, the UK, and the USA) and national experts, experiences were exchanged, and pressing challenges were discussed. "In the coming years, the DESAM-ForNet aims to establish an independent, sustainable, and internationally competitive network structure for research in the outpatient setting. For Germany, this represents a relevant addition to its national research infrastructures. The TMF is pleased to be able to contribute its experiences from the BMBF-funded Medical Informatics Initiative (MII): Standardization, data protection, and cross-sectoral connectivity are essential," explains Sebastian C. Semler, Managing Director of the TMF.

Motivating General Practices by Involving them in Research Questions

Motivating general practitioners to participate in research in general medicine is one of the project's challenges. According to the international panel, practices' involvement in developing research questions and comprehensive communication of the most practice-relevant results are central success factors before financial compensation.

Close Link with the Medical Informatics Initiative Planned

A prerequisite for the use of data for research is still the informed consent of the patients. The international experts stated in the workshop that this broad consent has already been proven compatible with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation in various countries.

Only with broad consent to the reuse of their data can these be used for future research questions and thus for the benefit of current and future patients. Close cooperation between the DESAM-ForNet initiative and the MII is also planned here. Cross-sectoral collaboration is more important than ever for the success of future research approaches.

Press Contact

Wiebke Lesch
Press and Public Relations, TMF
Dorotheenstr. 42, 10178 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2200 24731
Mobile: +49 177 2663257
E-mail: presse@tmf-ev.de
Twitter: @tmf_eV

Dr. med. Leonor Heinz
Project Management of the Coordination Office
German Research Practice Networks Initiative – DESAM-ForNet
German Foundation for General Medicine and Family Medicine
Schumannstraße 9, 10117 Berlin
Phone: 030 - 20 966 98 26
E-mail: heinz@desam.de

About DESAM-ForNet

The German Research Practice Networks Initiative — DESAM-ForNet — consists of 6 research practice networks in different regions of Germany and a coordinating office in Berlin. It is operated by the German Foundation for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DESAM) together with the Technology and Methods Platform for Networked Medical Research (TMF). DESAM-ForNet is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The initiative aims to strengthen general medicine through research from practice for practice with a sustainable and internationally competitive research infrastructure.