Category: News

Please note that the link for today’s meeting is:

https://zoom.us/j/97348320139?pwd=NlhSSFNKRlpMcGx5Uk5DS2tGU09wUT09

Please refer to online calendar and Event information for full details. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Following the recent update to the TMF Reference Model (to v3.2.0 on 02-Nov-2020), the accompanying User Guide has also been revised. The new version is now available to download from our Resources page.

As well as providing a great overview of the most recent changes to the Reference Model, the document provides a useful guide to navigating the Reference Model. Along with the Implementation Guide, this is essential reading for users of the Reference Model.

The TMF Reference Model Steering Committee today announces that version 3.2.0 of the Trial Master File Reference Model is now available to download free of charge. The TMF Reference Model project originated in the DIA Document and Records Management Community in 2008. This latest release incorporates updates developed in response to 25 requests from industry received through June 2020. As a result, Version 3.2.0 of the Reference Model reflects updated regulatory guidance and current industry best practices – making it easier for organizations to configure the TMF Reference Model to their processes, and to further improve TMF quality, completeness, and timeliness.

In addition to expanding the scope and definition of artifacts and file types, TMF Reference Model v3.2.0:

• adds a new column, “Recommended sub-artifacts,” an option to list company-specific records that an organization would expect to file under a given artifact; and
• features a super-set of 612 customizable sub-artifacts to replace the previous “Sub-artifact” and “Alternate name” columns, providing greater flexibility to help ensure the TMF Reference Model is aligned with an organization’s SOPS and compliance needs.

What’s new in TMF Reference Model version 3.2.0?

• One new artifact – 06.05.04 Non-IP Storage Documentation
• Four changes to artifact names 
• One filetype change – adding site level to Monitoring Plan
• One milestone change 
• 22 changes to Artifact Definition/Purpose, Milestones, Glossary, Model Overview and ICH Code
• One new column, “Recommended sub-artifacts,” as described above

Note: “Alternate name” was retired and replaced by the new ”Recommended Sub-Artifacts” column. Individual companies may choose to retain this column for alternate names that may exist across divisions or with partners.

Organizations wishing to implement this latest version of the TMF Reference Model can find the latest complete Model, Release Notes, an updated Implementation Guide and a recording of the October 26 General Meeting where Version 3.2 was presented at http://www.tmfrefmodel.com/resources. Industry requests received since June are in the process of evaluation.

“This latest version of the TMF Reference Model builds on the hard work and incredible collaboration of so many people in our industry to standardize and simplify TMF management processes,” said Karen Roy, Chair of the TMF Reference Model Steering Committee. “In the 10 years since version 1.0 of the TMF Reference Model was launched, we have seen it embraced by organizations worldwide as a critical component supporting Trial Master File compliance and inspection-readiness. We fully expect version 3.2.0 to be a valuable contribution to this ongoing effort.”

Why is a stand alone index needed?

Those of you who are involved in real world studies (RWS) know that trying to file your documents using the existing TMF Reference Model (TMF RM) based on ICH E6 can be challenging.  Your study isn’t a clinical trial and as a result, at least 40% of the artifacts in the index are irrelevant.  The result?  You start from the beginning every time you set up a new study and  ‘switch off’ the tabs that aren’t applicable. Alternatively, you may be required to use the existing TMF RM per your organisation’s policy, and document which tabs aren’t relevant. Additionally, you hope that an auditor of your ‘real world study TMF’ understands your type of study and doesn’t penalize you for missing documents (or documents that were never generated, because your study is not a clinical trial).

With the increasing use of these types of studies to support drug development, product licensing, label claims and reimbursement, the need for an audit-ready framework, referencing the documents that evidence the integrity of the study conduct and data, has become a critical requirement.

The result is a listing of core and recommended artifacts relevant to real world studies (that are not clinical trials) while remaining  as consistent as possible with the TMF-RM format and structure. The RWS-DI adapted the TMF RM and removed artifacts specific to clinical trials such as Investigational Product Dossier (IMPD) or Investigator’s Brochure (IB) and replaced terminology such as ‘trial’ with ‘study’ and ‘subject’ with ‘patient’.

The RWS-DI was supported by the TMF Reference Model Steering Committee throughout its development and approved by them prior to being launched to the wider research community as a ‘stand-alone’ deliverable. It is anticipated that, as it becomes widely adopted, the RWS-DI will evolve to reflect user community requirements. Feedback, inquiries, and suggestions for improvements for incorporation in future versions can be made using the RWS mailbox: stuart.mccully@phoenix-rwr.co.uk or by contributing to our online discussion forum.

The Real World Studies Working Group is comprised of the following members, all of whom work within the Real-World Study environment and contributed their expertise throughout the duration of the project:

Shelley Brigstock, Study Project Manager, Novo Nordisk
Kath Firth, Head, Quality Operations, GSK
Tara Isherwood, Senior Director, Regulatory Advice and Delivery, Syneos Health
Russell Joyce, Director and Principal Consultant, Heath Barrowcliff Consulting
Jeff Kirsch*, Senior Director, Quality & Risk Management and Governance, GSK [Currently-Director and Founder, Jeff Kirsch Consulting Ltd]
Stuart McCully, Founder, Phoenix RWR
Linda Rudolph, Principal Consultant, Quality Werx, LLC

The Real-World Studies Document Index can be downloaded for free from our Resources page.

Elections to fill the five vacancies on the Steering Committee will open at 5pm BST on Monday 30th March 2020. All active project members (registered on groups.io) will receive an invitation to cast a vote for up to five of the eight candidates, with voting open until Friday 10th April 2020. Details about candidates can be found HERE.

Please add your voice to the only non-commercial, annual industry-wide Trial Master File Survey!  Make sure your perspective is heard and get valuable insights and data for your TMF improvement initiatives. 

This survey – developed by the TMF Reference Model Project Team –  is designed to provide insight into TMF details and practices from sponsors, CROs, inspectors, and sites, for TMF management.  The intent is to identify emerging TMF trends, assess changes in industry directions, and measure the impact of TMF Reference Model.  Please take a few minutes to add your voice today by going to the Survey link here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019TMF

As always, the survey is completely anonymous.

Please add your voice to the only non-commercial, annual industry-wide Trial Master File Survey!  Make sure your perspective is heard and get valuable insights and data for your TMF improvement initiatives. 

This survey – developed by the TMF Reference Model Project Team –  is designed to provide insight into TMF details and practices from sponsors, CROs, inspectors, and sites, for TMF management.  The intent is to identify emerging TMF trends, assess changes in industry directions, and measure the impact of TMF Reference Model.  Please take a few minutes to add your voice today by going to the Survey link here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019TMF

As always, the survey is completely anonymous.

Our new online discussion forum is now available…. just click on the Forum link on the main menu.

Those who have been involved with the TMF Reference Model project for a while will know that we’ve used Yahoo!Groups for several years. However, it is not always so convenient having groups of users managed in different places and Yahoo! are about to make some major changes to Yahoo!Groups, meaning we will lose lots of functionality. So our forum on Yahoo!Groups will be closing down soon.

Just a few things to note about the new forum:

• Everything posted on the forum is visible to the general public so be careful about sharing company confidential or personal information.
• You have to be a registered subscriber to post and you need to be logged in to the website.
• We expect posters to follow a few basic rules (these are shown in a ‘sticky post’ on the forum)… you are likely to be barred from posting if the forum is used to promote products or services, or to post links to blogs and other sites. The aim is to facilitate discussion on the forum.
• You can visit the forum regularly to check for new topics and posts but if you are a registered user you can also subscribe to the forum and automatically receive alerts to new topics and posts.

Happy posting!!