CESQIP Aggregate Data Program (CADP)

Application Materials

Please download the items below (you will need to upload each of these items with your application)

Letter of Intent

Research Use Agreement (the RUA can be downloaded for signature, then uploaded or it can be signed electronically in your application)

Instructions on Biosketch (the Principle Investigator and each Co-investigator will need to complete and upload a Biosketch)

Research Proposal Application (the key elements are noted here for copying and pasting into the online application if preferred, please note the character limit of 1500 for Background and 2000 for Analysis Plan)

Guide to the Process and Forms

The Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (CESQIP) aims to improve the value of care delivered to patients. Formed in 2012 by endocrine surgery leaders from the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) with expertise in outcomes tracking, CESQIP utilizes concepts of continuous quality improvement to improve outcomes and optimize costs. This is accomplished through patient-centered data collection, ongoing performance feedback to clinicians, and improvement based on analysis of collected data and collaborative learning.

For this purpose, we will begin to take request for applications on an annual basis for aggregate data for the purpose of research.

CESQIP Aggregate Data Program (CADP) will be a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant data file of cases submitted to the CESQIP Database. The CADP contains de-identified patient level data that do not identify hospitals, healthcare providers, or patients as agreed to in the Data Use Agreement that each CESQIP participant program has signed with the Endocrine Surgery Quality Foundation. The CADP is designed to provide investigators associated with CESQIP with a data resource they can use to review and advance the quality of care delivered to endocrine surgery patients through analyses of cases reported to the CESQIP. The CADP is only available through an application process to investigators associated with CESQIP participating programs.

Who may apply: Applicants must be CESQIP participants in good standing for more than 9 months of one renewal cycle.

When: Applications will be accepted once per year.

The CADP application period will open April 1 and remain open through May 31 of each year. Notification of accepted proposals will be issued on or about July 1st of the same year.

Notice of the CADP will be disseminated via the following methods:

  1. Emails to CESQIP participants.
  2. Posted on CESQIP data portal.

Criteria for awards:

  • The CADP applications will be reviewed by the AAES CESQIP Committee. CADP proposals will be organ specific, per the research interests of the investigator and include cases diagnosed since the inception of CESQIP or a defined study period.
  • Prior to the release of the CADP data to the investigator, evidence of IRB approval must be provided to the AAES CESQIP Committee Chair.
  • Aggregate data will be made available in excel or csv formats.
  • The CADP data are only to be used for the express research purpose outlined in the application.
    • For this reason, all abstracts and manuscripts using data from the CADP must be submitted to and reviewed by the AAES CESQIP Committee in a timely fashion prior to presentation or publication.
    • Acknowledgement of CESQIP must be included in all abstract and paper submissions (see below).
    • Data are not to be used for promotion of a specific program or individual.
    • Any publications must include the following statement:
      • “CESQIP and the hospitals participating in CESQIP are the source of the data used herein; they have not verified and are not responsible for the statistical validity of the data analysis or the conclusions derived by the authors.   The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the official position of the AAES or CESQIP. Use of CESQIP data does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.”
  • The scoring system will be similar to grant applications and feedback on scoring will be given to applicants.
  • A database of all data requests will be maintained to track each request, publication, proper regulatory controls and data misuse
  • Citizenship: The committee will also consider citizenship when making decisions about research proposals. Citizenship encompasses any prior interactions with the CADP process and adherence to the guidelines and deadlines for submitting abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts for review. Additionally, citizenship includes your site’s compliance with data entry and completeness. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that CESQIP data is accurate and complete so that everyone can benefit from high quality data for research. Gross negligence of the CADP guidelines or data entry on the platform may result in the committee deciding to deny requests for research data.

How to apply: General Instructions for Potential CESQIP Aggregate Data Program Applicants
This document provides an overarching description of what investigators should anticipate as they plan their project proposals and prepare their application for access to the CESQIP Aggregate Data Files.

  • Initiate a new research proposal application at https://data.cesqip.org
  • Complete the online application. Both the application and the instructions are available via the web portal.
  • Submit biosketch via the web portal. No facsimile or mailed copy of the application will be accepted.
  • Submit signed Research Use Agreement via the web portal.
  • All applications will be reviewed by the AAES CESQIP Committee.
  • Notification of accepted proposals will be issued on or about July 1st
  • ArborMetrix will arrange access to the aggregate data files for awardees.
  • Awardees will be required to submit proof of IRB approval to the AAES CESQIP Committee Chair before release of the aggregate data file to awardee.
  • CADP awardees are required to submit a 6 month and 12 month follow-up on progress and results of their research proposal to the AAES CESQIP Committee Chair.
    • CESQIP must review and approve all presentations, abstracts and manuscripts that use CESQIP data before presentation or submission.

CADP Purpose and Terms of Agreement
The CADP supports investigators at CESQIP-participating institutions to conduct research derived from the CESQIP aggregate data. The Research Use Agreement document must be electronically signed by the Principle Investigator in the research proposal application. Data from CADP awardees may NOT be shared with other CESQIP participants or non-CESQIP investigators without the express written permission of the AAES CESQIP Committee unless they are listed as a co-investigator on the research proposal application. Data are for research purposes only and are not to be used for marketing of any particular program or physician.

CESQIP Aggregate Data Files Data Dictionary
The current release of the CESQIP Aggregate Data Files is documented in this online data dictionary and includes: overview documentation describing the data, detailed documentation of the specific items included in the data.

Controversial or contrary behavior by awardees (i.e. sharing data, violating RUA, etc.):  Any data misuse will result in the individual(s) and/or program being banned from using the data for a period of 5 years. Individuals and programs who misuse data will have their names published on the CESQIP website and may face possible expulsion from the CESQIP.

Questions regarding the CADP or the application process may be directed to CESQIP by email at 

ce********@ar*********.com











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