Getting Started with a New CRISPI REDCap Project

If you are planning a new study and need a secure database or electronic survey solution, the steps below outline how to initiate a new project in CRISPI REDCap.

Step 1: Confirm Study Readiness

Before requesting a new CRISPI REDCap project, investigators and study teams should ensure:

• The research protocol is approved or in the final stages of IRB review (if applicable)
• Funding and Institute/Center approvals are in place
• Key study personnel are identified
• Data collection requirements are defined

Having these elements prepared will streamline project setup and ensure appropriate system configuration.

Step 2: Submit a Project Request

To initiate a new CRISPI REDCap project, study teams must send an email to redcap@nih.gov. This is the central CRISPI REDCap mailbox where our team members will review your request.

You will then receive a survey which will typically ask the following information:

• Project title
• Principal Investigator (PI) name
• Institute or Center affiliation
• Study type (e.g., clinical, observational, survey-based)
• Regulatory status (e.g., IRB approval, exempt, operational project)
• Expected data sensitivity (e.g., PHI, PII)
• Anticipated study start and end dates

Providing complete and accurate information helps ensure appropriate security settings and user access controls are applied at project creation.

Step 3: Fact-Finding Discussion with the CRISPI REDCap Team

After your project request survey is submitted, the CRISPI REDCap team may schedule a fact-finding discussion with the study team. This meeting helps ensure that the proposed project is appropriately designed, secure, and aligned with NIH policies and REDCap best practices.

During this discussion, the team may review:

• Study objectives and overall workflow
• Data collection methods (forms, surveys, longitudinal design)
• Regulatory considerations and data use requirements
• Data sensitivity and security needs (e.g., PHI, PII)
• User roles and access requirements
• Plans for data sharing, exports, or integrations (if applicable)

This conversation allows the CRISPI REDCap team to clarify requirements, identify potential challenges early, and recommend efficient build strategies before project provisioning.

Engaging in this collaborative planning step helps streamline setup, reduce rework, and ensure the project is configured correctly from the outset.

Step 4: Project Provisioning and Access Setup

Once submitted, the CRISPI REDCap team reviews the request to verify alignment with NIH policies and system requirements. After approval:

• A new REDCap project is provisioned in the CRISPI environment
• The designated Project Owner is granted initial access
• User roles and permissions are configured based on study needs
• Security settings are applied in accordance with NIH standards

Investigators can then begin building their data collection instruments.

Step 5: Build and Configure Your Project

After provisioning, study teams may:

• Create data collection forms and surveys
• Enable longitudinal data collection (if applicable)
• Configure validation rules and branching logic
• Set up user rights and role-based permissions
• Test the project in development mode

The CRISPI REDCap team can provide guidance or consultation for complex builds.
Once testing is complete and data collection is ready to begin, the project can be moved to Production status following CRISPI review procedures.