Research infrastructure SPRINTR is a national infrastructure for cancer research that collects and provides access to data for research. Through a shared framework for data collection, analysis and patient inclusion, it enables the development and validation of biomarker-driven treatment strategies. The infrastructure is scalable and open to researchers throughout Sweden.
SPRINTR is a national research infrastructure that aims to enable large-scale cancer research through coordinated data collection and the development of shared methodology and working processes. The infrastructure creates conditions for research in precision medicine, with the goal of generating new knowledge that can contribute to more accurate treatments.
About SPRINTR
A central component of SPRINTR is a shared data infrastructure where data from the national, prospective data collection within SPRINTR is gathered, curated and made available for research. The data infrastructure is designed to also be able to include, over time, data and results from studies carried out within the cohort, enabling the gradual development of an increasingly rich research resource.
Through standardised methods for data collection, patient inclusion and analysis, conditions are created for comparable and reusable datasets, which in turn enable both individual studies and more extensive research programmes.
SPRINTR is built on a concept where patients are included already in the clinical diagnostic pathway, often before a diagnosis has been established, and provide informed consent in two stages – both for current and future research. This enables the creation of what is known as a study-ready population, which creates conditions for fast and efficient recruitment to clinical trials.
The infrastructure holds a broad ethics approval that enables the collection, linkage and analysis of data from several complementary sources. This includes, among other things:
SPRINTR also supports studies that include health economic analyses, such as evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of treatments, healthcare resource utilisation and long-term outcomes at population level. The combination of clinical data, biomarker information and quality-of-life measures creates good conditions for integrated analyses of both medical outcomes and patient benefit.
SPRINTR supports multiple types of studies within the same infrastructure, for example:
This enables both the generation of new knowledge and the rapid translation of research results into clinical application.
SPRINTR is initially being developed within prostate cancer but is designed from the outset to be adaptable to other cancer types. Technical solutions, methodology and methods developed within one cancer type are, whenever possible, intended to be reused and further developed across other parts of the infrastructure.
SPRINTR is built on the principle that infrastructure and data constitute a shared resource for the research community. The infrastructure is therefore available to researchers and research groups throughout Sweden and is intended to contribute to broad research benefit and equal opportunities for academic merit and career development.
How the infrastructure can be used
SPRINTR provides access to nationally collected data within cancer research. Researchers and other stakeholders can apply for data withdrawals for research purposes, in accordance with applicable ethical approvals and data protection regulations.
The infrastructure can be used to:
For researchers active within SPRINTR, the infrastructure also serves as a shared platform for planning and conducting studies with coordinated approaches and methods.
Access to SPRINTR
To access SPRINTR data, please initiate contact with the infrastructure via info.sprintr@umu.se.
Following an initial dialogue, an assessment is made of how the project can be carried out within the framework of the infrastructure, including requirements for data withdrawal, agreements and any operational support.
Access requires that the project is compatible with the infrastructure and meets applicable requirements regarding ethics, data protection and use of data
Terms and Principles
SPRINTR is built on shared principles for data sharing, collaboration and responsible use:
All use of data and infrastructure must respect patient privacy, ethical approvals and good research practice.
User Fees
Fees are charged in accordance with the regulation on fees for research infrastructure (SFS 2022:1378) and EU state aid rules. The fee model is transparent and based on actual resource use:
The level of fees is determined per project and is based on actual resource use, for example for data withdrawal, quality assurance and analysis. Contact info.sprintr@umu.se for information on fees for a specific project.
