Power Your Research with Reg-ent Data
Who Can Submit a Research Proposal
To request access to Reg-ent data, applicants must meet the following requirements before submitting:
REQUIREMENT
AAO-HNS
Membership
Active membership in the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery is required for all individual applicants.
REQUIREMENT
Full Data Contribution
Applicants must contribute full structured, unstructured, and ancillary data to Reg-ent prior to submitting a proposal.
REQUIREMENT
IRB Approval
The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Documentation must be included at the time of submission.
REQUIREMENT
Committee Allowance
AAO-HNS committees may submit one project annually and are exempt from the full data contribution requirement. Additional projects must go through the Executive Committee.
How the Submission Process Works
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The full approval process can take up to 6–8 months.
STEP 2
Sign the Publication Acknowledgment
Acknowledge that findings will be submitted to Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery or OTO Open for right of first refusal, and to the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting Program Committee for presentation consideration.
STEP 3
Include IRB Documentation
The PI is responsible for obtaining central IRB approval. Documentation must be submitted alongside your proposal. If centralized IRB is not utilized, PI is responsible for institutional IRB approval which must be included at the time of proposal submission.
STEP 4
RAPID Member Review
Each RAPID member completes an individual proposal review webform and submits scores to the RAPID liaison for collation.
STEP 5
Committee Discussion
If significant concerns or discrepancies arise, RAPID will correspond via email or conference call to resolve them.
STEP 6
RAPID Chair Recommendation
The RAPID Chair compiles feedback and submits a formal recommendation to the Reg-ent Executive Committee.
STEP 7
PI Notification
The final decision is communicated directly to the Principal Investigator.
STEP 8
Discovery Call with Reg-ent Team
Establish and confirm patient cohort and discuss data delivery process.
Evaluation Criteria
Every research proposal is assessed using these four standards to ensure research quality and relevance to otolaryngology.
Feasibility
Can the study be successfully executed using available Reg-ent data within a reasonable timeline?
Scientific Merit
Does the proposal contribute meaningful, generalizable knowledge that advances the field of otolaryngology?
Ethical Considerations
Does the research protect patient privacy, maintain data integrity, and meet institutional research standards?
Clinical Relevance
Will the findings improve ENT patient care, outcomes, or inform clinical practice guidelines?
After Your Proposal Is Approved
Once approved, PIs take on ongoing responsibilities to ensure research integrity and keep the Reg-ent community informed of progress and findings.
Project Publication
Your project title and study type will be published on the Reg-ent website to prevent duplication of research efforts.
Quarterly Progress Updates
The PI must submit quarterly progress updates, including a projected timeline to completion, to RAPID. Major changes should be communicated to RAPID promptly.
Publication Right of First Refusal
Findings must be submitted to Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery or OTO Open before submitting to another journal. Waivers can be requested through the AAO-HNS Executive Committee for higher-impact journals.
Annual Meeting Presentation
If presenting at an otolaryngology meeting, the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting must be given right of first refusal unless waived by the Executive Committee.
Meet the RAPID Committee
All research proposals are reviewed and prioritized by the Reg-ent Advisory Panel for Innovation & Development (RAPID). The RAPID's charge is to promote the highest quality, non-commercial Reg-ent-associated research that advances otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and helps define quality care for the specialty.
Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, MBA, Chair
Vikas Mehta, MD, MPH
Jay S. Rechtweg, MD
Matthew G. Crowson, MD
Megan L. Durr, MD
Michael J. Brenner, MD
Willard C. Harrill, MD
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Reg-ent be used for research?
Reg-ent offers multiple research opportunities using de-identified datasets. Individual members can access de-identified data for research studies, participate in revenue-generating projects as data curation expands, and collaborate on clinical trial research opportunities. AAO-HNS committees can also request Reg-ent data to support committee initiatives and projects.
How are proposals reviewed?
All requests are reviewed and prioritized by the Reg-ent Advisory Panel for Innovation & Development (RAPID), which promotes high-quality, non-commercial research that advances otolaryngology and defines quality care for the specialty. Proposals are scored on significance and clinical impact, methodology, timeline, principal investigator experience, and history of AAO-HNSF committee involvement.
What analytical support is available?
The Reg-ent team can provide analytical services for organizations with limited data processing capabilities, from basic queries to advanced statistical analysis. Requests for analytical support should be established during the initial proposal phase to determine associated costs and availability.
Can Reg-ent data be supplemented with other datasets?
Yes, the Reg-ent de-identified dataset can be supplemented with external data sources such as claims data. Additional data requests and supplemental services should be identified and scoped during the initial proposal phase.