Wilson A1, Grady S2, Shortt N3
1Intersect Australia, , Australia, 2Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia, 3Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
Biography:
Aidan Wilson – https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9858-5470
Aidan Wilson is Intersect Australia’s Digital Research Services Manager and REDCap Lead. He supervises a team of Digital Research Analysts, provides advice and support for REDCap sites, and manages Intersect’s researcher training program. Aidan was named the REDCap Consortium Most Valuable Player in 2022.
Prior to joining Intersect, Aidan was a linguistic researcher working in the field of Australia’s Indigenous Languages, focusing in particular on the verb morphology of Traditional Tiwi, and other languages from the top-end, one of the most linguistically diverse regions on Earth.
Shaun Grady – https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7808-8983
Shaun Grady is a Senior Health Informatician at Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), where he leads the delivery of research informatics services and manages the Data Sciences Research Training Program. His work spans research data management, digital research platforms, research software solutions, training, and the implementation of technology-enabled research workflows across a diverse range of disciplines.
Originally trained as a Radiation Therapist, Shaun has worked across healthcare, clinical research, health informatics, and research technology. His interests include digital health, research infrastructure, data-driven service design, and the evolving role of technology in supporting the research lifecycle. He is passionate about building sustainable, researcher-focused services that improve access to data, technology, and digital capability within the research sector.
Nick Shortt
Nick Shortt has a decade of experience in the clinical research space, including protocol development, clinical trial operations, and the database development space. Nick’s primary role at the MRINZ is lead administrator and database developer using the REDCap platform.
Nick is currently completing his PhD at Victoria University of Wellington, focused on development of a clinical trial management system designed to support clinical research undertaken through community pharmacies.
Abstract:
Since its birth in 2004, REDCap has evolved from a niche medical data collection tool into a fundamental pillar of Australian eResearch. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Australasian eResearch sector, we must reflect on the platform's profound impact while confronting the realities of an evolving threat landscape. Recent incidents, such as the active exploitation of the INFINITERED malware, signal a critical paradigm shift: REDCap is no longer flying under-the-radar; it is now an active target for malicious actors, and this is likely to continue with sophisticated AI-enabled exploitation.
This development exposes the risks inherent in the localised, ad-hoc administrative practices that have historically characterised REDCap deployment. To secure the next decade, we propose the adoption of national best-practice standards. This presentation outlines a collaborative framework that shifts our collective approach from informal hosting to enterprise-grade research operations.
We address the essential pillars of a modern REDCap service model, including infrastructure standards (segregated Dev/Test/Prod environments), rigorous upgrade procedures, API key management, and robust vetting processes for External Modules. Furthermore, we define the necessary administrative governance, clarifying the vital responsibilities between Business Owners, DBAs, Web Administrators, and REDCap leads.
By transitioning to standardised, rigorous governance, the Australasian research community can safeguard the integrity of our data landscape, while providing guidance for underprepared sites. This framework ensures that REDCap remains a resilient, trusted, and future-proof asset; shaping the next generation of eResearch infrastructure and securing our future for the decades to come.
