RINK Rules of Engagement
- Each study proposal will require a neonatologist and pediatric nephrologist for submission.
- Each proposal will require a co-PI from at least two institutions.
- Each center that submits data will be a named author on the study. For larger multicenter work this may come in the form of a collaborator mechanism but can be discussed on a case by case basis.
- Each study PI is responsible for funding, biostats, etc. The RINK arm of the RC simply provides the framework/infrastructure to build and cultivate the research.
- At meetings, study PI’s will be expected to provide updates of new studies, work in progress, actively enrolling studies, and studies that have completed enrollment.
- While the RINK is the name of the group, studies that are performed by the RINK mechanism will need to include the following in the title, “a Neonatal Kidney Collaborative study.” This will allow for the NKC to be Pubmed citable. If this study is done in conjunction with other multicenter collaborative this can be discussed between the RINK leadership and the study PI.
- The RINK will actively seek to ensure that study and collaboration opportunities are extended to include NKC sites outside of the United States. Meetings that are virtual in nature will be held at times to optimize the ability for non-North American sites to participate. Furthermore, specific updates and follow-up to in-person meetings will actively solicit and encourage participation from sites outside of North America.
- Each protocol will be reviewed by the NKC’s Protocol sub-committee prior to soliciting participants.
- All abstracts and publications will be reviewed by the NKC’s Publications sub-committee prior to submission.
- Order of authorship will be determined by the principal investigators of each study. Each individual at a participating center that contributes at least one patient will receive by-line authorship. In circumstances where there are multiple large multicenter consortia collaborative mechanisms for authorship can be discussed. The authorship plan will be included as part of the proposal submission.
- Each center will identify a site lead for the RINK that will serve as the liaison. This position will initially serve to answer site questions surrounding site characteristics when applicable for studies (number of patients treated with a condition, etc.) This position is a leadership that participants can place onto their CV. This person will become more important for the development and execution of longitudinal studies, clinical feasibility, etc.
Protocol/ Study development would evolve as follows Figure 1:
- Developing ideas at Meeting 1 with topic based individual working groups. With the initial meetings, we will develop the working groups. Participants will self-identify to a working group based on their interest and are freely allowed to move between working groups at different meetings. The working groups will identify study PI’s at the meetings.
- In between meetings, teams will assist the PI in protocol development, ideally have it reviewed and approved by the NKC RC’s Protocol sub-committee. If further input is needed this can be presented for feedback at a subsequent RINK meeting.
- Once approved, the approved protocol will be distributed to all NKC sites to identify interested parties and to solicit sites to participate.
- Ideally, a study is finalized and kicks off after meeting 2. Investigators will be encouraged to work efficiently with proposals, but timelines will remain flexible.
