NEWS

Workshop: Creativity: Step Out Into the Unknown!

2026.03.08

As part of SHARE-CTD professional training programme, our doctoral students recently participated in the workshop “Creativity: Step Out Into the Unknown!” led by Prof. Cornelia Rémi (4 March 2026).

The session introduced creativity as a structured process, moving from preparation and incubation to illumination and verification, and highlighted the importance of intentionally switching between “Create” and “Control” modes of thinking.

In addition to the conceptual framework, participants were actively involved through creativity practices, short games, and facilitated discussions, creating an engaging environment to experiment with new ways of generating and refining ideas.

Participants also practiced a toolbox of methods that are applicable to research and collaborative problem-solving, including:

• Affinity diagramming (KJ method) to structure complex, unstructured problems.

• Brainwriting (including the 6-3-5 technique) to generate ideas inclusively and efficiently.

• SCAMPER and Flip-Flop for systematic reframing and iteration.

• Six Thinking Hats and a criteria matrix to support multi-perspective evaluation and transparent decision-making.

A key takeaway was that creativity can be strengthened through concrete practices such as postponing judgement during idea generation and fostering psychological safety, helping teams explore, test, and evaluate solutions more effectively.

We thank Prof. Cornelia Rémi for an engaging and practical workshop, and we look forward to integrating these approaches into our ongoing research and training activities within the network.

Second Datathon (08.02.-13.02.2026, Zeist, Netherlands)

2026.02.18

DCs, PIs, and guests met for a datathon to perform an independent patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA). The project was prepared by Prof. Dr. Florian Naudet (Univ. Rennes). He preregistered on OSF a protocol for a multi-team IPD-MA project on the effect of esketamine on suicidal ideation. The aim of our study is to explore how different analytical choices may affect the results of the IPD-MAs. Based on this, three teams independently prepared statistical analysis plans (SAPs), which were also preregistered. Meanwhile, Florian Naudet applied for access to 15 esketamine trials via the YODA data-sharing platform for three different teams.

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During the week in Zeist, the teams attempted to perform data management tasks to prepare data sets for their planned analyses. Three medical experts, one for each team, helped the teams to understand how the medical background of each trial was reflected in the complex datasets. Their familiarity with the trials under study was also a great help. Ultimately, each team was able to conduct the planned primary analysis. On Thursday, we compared these results and discussed the differences between the teams. We also devised a strategy for developing a multiverse analysis (VoE: variation of effects) based on the different approaches used by the teams.

It was an intense and concentrated week of work, but also great fun. The DCs improved their karaoke skills. We visited Utrecht, climbed the cathedral tower and explored the town's history. We also enjoyed a great dinner at a vegetarian Italian restaurant.

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Many thanks go to Dr. Martin Ploederl, who joined us as an expert psychologist, and to Prof. Dr. Christoph Gerlinger, who joined us as a representative of our partner, Bayer. Friday morning the datathon closed with an inspiring lecture by Dr. Thomas Debray (Smart Data Analysis and Statistics) on the use of historical data to strengthen clinical trials.

Thanks to everyone who made the event such a great success.

Third Schooling in June 2026 online

2026.01.07

Led by Prof. Dr. Florian Naudet (University of Rennes, UNIVREN) the third SHARE-CTD schooling will take place online from June 1 to June 12, 2026.

Third Datathon in September 2026 in Göttingen

2025.12.19

Led by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sax (University Medical Center Göttingen, UMG) the third SHARE-CTD datathon will take place at Rechenzentrum Göttingen from 7th to 11th of September 2026.