What our clients are saying…

The Simons Foundation selected Prometheus Research to build an innovative information system for autism research, which now holds data on more than 2,500 families affected with autism. The project was extremely challenging, with components installed at 12 sites across North America, a complex research protocol and a multi-stakeholder organization. Data were collected in record time at extraordinary levels of quality thanks to Prometheus’ technology and experience. Intuitive front end software significantly aided research assistants, administrators and scientists. As part of the informatics engagement, Prometheus provided the equivalent of high-level management consulting services that helped create appropriate project governance and reporting structures. Prometheus provides a unique combination of knowledge about advanced data management and science. We found them to be committed partners, excellent communicators, responsible managers and extremely agile in responding to the changing demands of scientific research.

Stephen Johnson, Ph.D.

Professor, Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University
Director, Informatics, Simons Foundation

(currently: Professor of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College)

Prometheus was instrumental in turning a complex and initially unwieldy scientific project into a fully functional one, enhancing both the scientific endeavor and our ability to flexibly adjust to and support the families participating in our studies. I unequivocally recommend them on any complex data collection project. Their background in science and in informatics facilitated the timely completion of a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure for our program.

Ami Klin, Ph.D.
Chief of Autism and Related Disorders, Marcus Autism Center

I’ve just started my second major research project with Prometheus in four years. Throughout that time, Leon, David, and the rest of the Prometheus staff have shown incredible flexibility and dedication to not only produce a top quality product, but also guide our team in making sound, long-term informatics decisions.

As our project needs have grown and changed, their adaptable software design has stayed a step ahead.  It’s used by research assistants doing data entry, by coordinators working with families, and by trained clinicians and data managers ensuring the quality of the project data.  Their HTSQL product has been a life saver, enabling me as the project manager to query and combine data easily on the fly.

When I think of all the different ways in which Prometheus has been helpful on my projects, it’s amazing that they were hired “just” to build software. That’s probably because they’ve helped overcome numerous research challenges that had nothing to do with actually building the system.  Their ability to quickly deliver software and procedures that support changing research environments, coupled with their deep caring about the research itself, makes it easy for me to recommend them.

Jennifer Tjernagel, M.S.
Project Manager, Simons Variation in Individuals Project (Simons VIP)

Leon and David have an uncanny knack for picking the most intelligent people I’ve ever met, regardless of their educational background, to work with them.

I can always be assured we can get the most complicated problems solved, with the right answer. As a clinical psychologist, I can say they are the best translators of computer-geek speak around. Throughout my time working with them on a huge, four year, international project, they’ve always taken time and care to understand us and what we need, and to make sure we understand them.

Just when you think you’ve learned a lot in your field, there’s more to be learned with Prometheus.

LeeAnne Green-Snyder, Ph.D., L.P.
Lead Phenotype Consultant, Simons Variation in Individuals Project

I write in strong support of Prometheus Research. As Scientific Director of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) I have worked with this remarkable team over the past four years and have come to know them well.

SFARI has established the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) by recruiting and carefully evaluating nearly 3, 000 families at thirteen university clinics across North America. Each family consists of the proband on the autism spectrum, both biological parents and  an unaffected sibling. Vast amounts of data were collected at each evaluation site,  de-identified, entered into a common database, curated and distributed to qualified  scientists.

Blood was collected, DNA extracted, and distributed to geneticists throughout the world. The results of whole genome scans for genetic variants were entered into the growing database. Tools were developed for accessing the phenotypic and genetic data in a manner that greatly facilitated research. Indeed, in many cases, it enabled scientists to ask questions that have never been approached before.

None of this would have been possible without Prometheus Research.

At every step, they came up with elegant solutions and they responded in record time. No problem was “impossible” or too petty. At times, their enthusiasm drove the entire project as they pointed out substantive problems concerning autism science that went beyond informatics. They spoke with leading Principle Investigators around the county and , in every case, they improved the way people think and work.

The Prometheus team developed tools for communication with investigators and with the Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository that facilitated the error – free distribution of hundreds of thousands of DNA samples to scientists around the world. Our tools and database, SFARIbase,  are now widely acknowledged as he best in the field. Indeed, because of Prometheus’ effort, we initiated the Autism Informatics Consortium that includes the NIH and other Foundations.

In short, working with the Prometheus team has been a joyful learning experience. They have made us all better scientists, and their impact on autism science and families will endure for years to come.

Gerald D. Fischbach
Scientific Director, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)
Dean emeritus; Health Sciences, Columbia University

In the summer of 2011, I headed up a study on adults with ASD that required considerable clinical characterization in order to interpret any findings we might discover. This study required a very condensed timeline: once the funding was confirmed, we had 4 weeks to run the subjects, enter the data, and analyze the results. It was critical that the new study protocol become ready for data entry as quickly as possible in order to ensure that I could meet my deadline. Prometheus was able to understand the protocol and configure the necessary data entry screens after only a few quick email exchanges. They were very respectful of the time-sensitive nature of this study, and made sure that the database was ready to go as soon as we were. We even found time to dual enter and validate our forms thanks to the rapid, keyboard short-cut- enabled ROADS data entry system. The experience and domain knowledge that Prometheus possesses makes them a great partner in kicking off a new study protocol – and doing it quickly.

Frederick Shic, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine

Prometheus provided data management support to my university as part of the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC). I contacted Naralys at Prometheus to help me retrieve a custom data set containing HIPAA-protected information, to help me recruit SSC families. Prometheus was able to quickly and securely provide me with the data I needed, saving me valuable time. Prometheus exceeded my expectations by also providing me with useful queries that I can run on my own when I need the most up-to-date data in the future. I feel confident in Prometheus’ ability to answer all of my data-related questions, and they are always happy to help.

Cara Schwartz
Project Coordinator, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada

Prometheus has been adding value to the Yale Autism Program in many ways since 2005. Thanks to their efforts, Yale was one of the first programs in the country to submit data to NDAR, and has met every submission deadline since 2009. Most recently, Prometheus enabled us to reclaim over 20 years worth of clinical data from a disparate array of legacy systems; these data are now integrated with our research data (often on the same individuals) to create an expansive resource for reuse and sharing. From their earliest days developing software to facilitate our transformative baby-sibs research, to their current role as data management partners on virtually all of our active projects, Prometheus has consistently exceeded our lofty expectations.

Fred R. Volkmar, MD
Director, Yale Child Study Center

I hope PR is really feeling quite impressed with themselves…because they should be. It’s hard to imagine another data company putting forth as much persistence, effort, and attention to detail; and having the ability to build bridges amongst diverse groups.

Dr. Fiona Miller, PhD
SSC Clinical Review Staff Member and clinician at the University of Michigan