Organisation & Structure
The General Assembly consists of all EVICR.net members and is the supreme organ of the Network. The General Assembly is responsible for the governing statutes to regulate the day-to-day business.
The Steering Committee is responsible for the activities of the EVICR.net and acts as its decision-making body within the framework set by the General Assembly. The Steering Committee consists of up to seven representatives: the Chairman, the Coordinator of each Expert Committee and the CEO of the Management Board.
The present Chairman of EVICR.net is José-Alain Sahel. The Management Board is AIBILI, in Coimbra, Portugal. The Management Board functions within the framework set by the Steering Committee.
The Coordinating Centre / Management Board functions are:
A. General management activities:
- Prepare the Network and annual budget
- Provide infrastructural support to the Chairman and Expert Committees
- Coordinate activities with the Steering Committee and any other Committees
- Prepare summaries of committees conference calls and meetings
B. Management of Members:
- Maintain a system to facilitate communication between Network Chairman, Steering Committee, Expert Committees, Scientific Sections, etc.
- Application of new members
- Certification of Clinical Sites;
- Re-certification of Clinical Sites
- SOP Management (Organizational, Technical and Reading Centres SOPs)
- Preparation and submission of proposals for EU funding
- Represent the Network with Regulatory Agencies such as EMA
- Promotion (newsletter, website, etc.)
C. Management activities directly related to Clinical Trials:
- Assist investigators in obtaining funding for approved Investigator-Driven Clinical Trials (IDCTs)
- Assist in the coordination the conduct of IDCTs
- Maintain systems to assist the clinical centers in achieving high recruitment rates and maintain high rates of patients retention
- Coordinate submission of IDCT process with the Expert Committees
- Management of IDCTs
D. Informatics Technologies activities:
- Maintain website updated
- Implement a data management system to support multiple projects
The Expert Committees have a fundamental role in the scientific organization of EVICR.net and cover the following main areas of research:
- AMD and Retinal Dystrophies - Coordinator: José-Alain Sahel
- Diabetic Retinopathy - Coordinator: José Cunha-Vaz
- Glaucoma - Coordinator: Esther Hoffmann
- Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery - Coordinator: Jorge Alió
- Ocular Surface and Inflammation - Coordinator: Joaquim Murta
- Reading Centres - Coordinator: Tunde Peto
The Expert Committee will advise the Steering Committee on matters related to the running of clinical research in their scientific area.
The Expert Committees functions are:
- Prepare expert advice for Industry
- Evaluate IDCTs submitted by Members
- Propose Clinical Trials to Industry or for European Union funding
- Evaluate EVICR.net potential for a specific trial
- Establish Working Groups for:
- Writing Committees
- Proposals Evaluation
- Development of technical SOPs
- Certification of technicians
- Educational and training activities
- Development of databases
Interest in participation in each of the five Scientific Sections must be indicated by each Clinical Site. Each Clinical Site will then nominate one representative for each area of interest and expertise. This representative will be part of the chosen Scientific Section.
The Industry Advisory Board advises the Steering Committee in all matters of strategic relevance, particularly pertaining collaborations with Industry. The Industry Advisory Board is composed of individuals or representatives of entities who have given support for the activities of EVICR.net, by invitation of the Steering Committee.