Events
SPA offers various helpful instructional sessions throughout the year as described below. Session dates are featured in the Event Details column to the right.
To request a virtual link to any of the sessions, SPAOutreach@utsouthwestern.edu us.
Research Roundup
On the first Thursday of each month, SPA hosts a virtual Research Roundup Meeting via Teams Live. SPA provides these sessions to the research community to communicate sponsor updates, implement new procedures, and forthcoming projects. The recap of these meetings is included in the weekly newsletter on the Monday after each session. Recordings of past sessions are available for your reference on the SPARK SPA Education Channel in SharePoint.
DCT Training
Learn the fundamentals of invoicing sponsors on clinical trials using the PeopleSoft Distributed Billing Clinical Trial (DCT) module. This specialized billing module is designed to support grants and contract management. In this session, you will learn how to generate and process a DCT invoice – a process that standardizes, automates, and streamlines clinical research billing. In addition, by using the DCT module, PeopleSoft compiles and summarizes this information into various reports for your use. The PeopleSoft DCT invoice is part of the grants billing workflow, helping to ensure that billing activities are accurate, automated, and aligned with compliance and accounting standards.
Velos Budget Training
Learn how to use coverage analysis to develop a comprehensive, detailed study budget using Velos eResearch, UT Southwestern’s premier Clinical Trials Management System. This session will introduce key budgeting fundamentals and demonstrate how Velos supports the creation of complete budgets for site-related and patient-related activities. With seamless integration into Epic and eIRB, Velos streamlines study execution while reducing redundant data entry.
ClinCard Training
Learn how to effectively manage and distribute financial incentives to study participants using ClinCard—UT Southwestern’s automated payment solution designed to simplify and secure stipends, reimbursements, and travel-related expenses. ClinCard enables seamless fund distribution via reloadable debit cards and direct deposit, offering a compliant, real-time payment system tailored to the needs of clinical research teams.
This training covers the core functionalities of the ClinCard system, including participant registration, card assignment, payment processing, and Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) validation. The session also covers the process for submitting Study Information Pages (SIPs), managing user roles, and following card security best practices. In addition to system guidance, it provides practical support for handling common scenarios research teams encounter, helping reduce administrative burden and enhance the overall participant experience.