Overview
OKIDS is a non-profit company with a network of renowned paediatric centres throughout Austria aiming at improving medicinal product safety and efficacy in children and adolescents by means of clinical studies. This goal is formulated in the Child Health Strategy of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and is implemented in Working Group 6 of the Child Health Dialogue.
OKIDS GmbH was founded in 2012 as a subsidiary of the ÖGKJ.
OKIDS is a subsidiary of the ÖGKJ
OKIDS GmbH was founded in 2012 as a subsidiary of the ÖGKJ (Austrian Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, www.paediatrie.at) and was based on the model of public-private partnership: in the founding phase the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), and in the start-up phase until today via partnerships or funding by Pharmig and the industry, the Joint Health Targets from the Pharma Master Agreement and the Austrian Society for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (ÖGKJ).
Our services
As a national hub, we offer support for the complete management and organisation of paediatric medicinal product studies within our highly specialised network of paediatric centres at children’s hospitals and universities throughout Austria:
- Feasibility Check: assessment of the feasibility of studies in Austria in collaboration with the paediatric centres involved.
- Contract management for paediatric medicinal product studies: together with the clinic/contract management interface, the locations ensure rapid contract review, taking centre-specific features into account.
- Central, expert coordination: benefit from a single contact point at the respective site created through OKDS for all aspects of the study and uncomplicated integration of all necessary partners on site. The teams at the sites offer extensive experience and consistency.
- HR services: rely on competent experts from all specialist fields who are familiar with local conditions. The OKIDS locations will help you to select the study staff you require.
- Advice and services provided to clinical trial teams at paediatric centres: trained and experienced staff is an aspect that plays an essential role in the successful conduct of clinical trials. Training courses on the subject of clinical trials are offered on a regular basis at the OKIDS locations in Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Salzburg.
Our research network
In order to achieve our objective to improve medicinal products appropriately for children, OKIDS operates a children’s research network at six locations in which experienced children’s hospitals and universities throughout Austria (Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Innsbruck) have come together to jointly conduct medicinal product studies in children and adolescents.
In addition, we are also strongly involved at international level and are a partner in the following networks:
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Category 1 member of Enpr-EMA (EuroEuropean Network of Paediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency, visit website)
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PedCRIN (Paediatric Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, visit website). Project period: 1.1.2017 - 30.6.2021
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C4C (Connect 4 Children, visit website). Project period: 1.5.2018 - 30.4.2024
This expertise, unique in Austria in the field of research into the safety and efficacy of medicinal products in children and adolescents, is made available by us, as a qualified national hub, to both academic studies and studies conducted by the pharmaceutical industry.
Our structure
This board, in an advisory capacity, assists the executive director. The task of the advisory board is to support the executive management of OKIDS GmbH with regard to specific decisions and the determination of strategic orientation concepts. The board comprises 13 members from organisations including the following:
ÖGKJ, Pharmig, Coordination Centres for Clinical Trials of the Universities, Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection, Austrian Federal Office for Safety and Health, EUPATI and Pro Rare.
The headquarters of the network in Vienna manages the service portfolio and coordinates the operational centres at the Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Innsbruck Locations.
Management and network centre
The headquarters of the network in Vienna manages the service portfolio and coordinates the operational centres at the Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Innsbruck Locations.
© Private
Managing Director
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ruth Ladenstein, MBA, cPM