How we redesigned and rebuilt a R1 Universities research platform to simplify UX while streamlining workflows for complex health initiative collaborations…

Project Name:
Global Health Hub Project

Organization Name and Division:
Global Health Initiative

Year and Quarter: Q3 2024

NAICS Codes:

  • 541511: Custom Computer Programming Services
  • 541512: Computer Systems Design Services
  • 541519: Other Computer Related Services
Overview

Launch Theory collaborated with the Global Health Initiative to develop a comprehensive digital platform designed to centralize and streamline global health resources. The project aimed to provide an easily accessible knowledge hub that supports collaboration, education, and data sharing among global health professionals.

Our Challenge

Launch Theory partnered with Deborah Kochevar of Tufts University to reimagine their Global Health collaboration platform after an initial 3rd party implementation proved too complex for practical use. The project began with a prototype developed by a San Francisco-based group using HubZero, an advanced research collaboration platform. While HubZero offered extensive capabilities, the project’s needs called for a more streamlined solution focused specifically on faculty collaboration and grant development. After securing additional funding, Launch Theory was engaged to rebuild the Global Health Hub from the ground up with a focus on intuitive design and practical functionality.

Launch Theory conducted several discovery sessions with stakeholders to identify core collaboration needs and usage patterns. This research revealed that faculty needed a focused set of collaboration tools that would be immediately intuitive, allowing them to concentrate on grant development rather than platform navigation. The team developed a simplified interface that would maintain advanced functionality while dramatically simplifying the user experience.

What We Accomplished
  1. User-Centric Architecture Development: Launch Theory designed an intuitive Drupal-based architecture that prioritized ease of use without sacrificing functionality. The team implemented a flexible group system that enabled seamless collaboration while maintaining an interface that faculty could navigate without training. This careful balance of power and simplicity ensured that even casual users could effectively participate in grant development activities.

     

  2. Collaboration and Discovery System: The team developed a dual-purpose platform that not only facilitated group work but also enabled research discovery. This innovative approach allowed active research groups to showcase their work, attracting potential collaborators from across the institution. The system supported both focused team collaboration and broader community engagement, creating natural pathways for expanding research partnerships.

     

  3. Integration with University Resources: Launch Theory created seamless connections to Tufts’ existing research support infrastructure, particularly the Office of Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) resources. By implementing thoughtful integration points, the team ensured faculty could access institutional resources and support services without leaving the familiar platform environment.

Working closely with Tufts’ Global Health faculty and administrators, Launch Theory executed the project through an iterative development process that included:

  • Regular stakeholder feedback sessions
  • Progressive enhancement of collaboration features
  • Continuous usability testing with faculty
  • Ongoing refinement based on real-world usage

The project delivered significant outcomes:

  • Created an intuitive platform that faculty could use without extensive training
  • Implemented secure but accessible collaboration spaces
  • Established a discovery system for research groups to attract new collaborators
  • Built seamless integration with university resources

The final solution empowered Tufts faculty to:

  • Efficiently organize and manage grant development teams
  • Easily discover and join relevant research initiatives
  • Access institutional resources through a single platform
  • Build stronger research partnerships across departments

“The Global Health Hub exemplifies Launch Theory’s core philosophy,” notes Greg Stout, Launch Theory’s founder. “Our company excels at bridging the gap between sophisticated technical requirements and intuitive user experiences. While many platforms address complex needs with complex solutions, our expertise shines in creating simplicity from complexity.

With her extensive experience in grant development, Dr. Kochevar understood that while researchers needed better collaboration tools, they had no time to learn complex new systems amid their already hectic schedules.

Her vision resulted in a platform where researchers can seamlessly integrate collaboration into their busy schedules. Faculty can establish research projects, engage colleagues, and manage complex grant development processes through an interface that requires no training. Although this apparent ease of use might suggest a straightforward implementation, it actually demanded sophisticated planning and engineering. The clean, intuitive interface masks layers of careful architecture decisions, security implementations, and workflow optimizations. This project represents exactly the kind of technical challenge we thrive on – creating systems that make complex tasks feel effortless while maintaining enterprise-grade functionality.”

Greg Stout, Founder and CEO Launch Theory

Project Timeline: 9 Months

Phase 1

Development and Theming

Phase 2

Launch and Support

Phase 3

Quality Assurance and Post-Launch Cleanup

Services Used

  • Drupal CMS
  • Drupal Development
  • Custom Theme Development
  • Multilingual Implementation
  • Quality Assurance & Regression Testing
  • Accessibility Compliance (WCAG)
  • Project Management & System Engineering
  • Client Training & Documentation
  • Usability Testing & Continuous Refinement
  • User Research

Key Technologies

  • Drupal CMS
  • Multilingual Support Framework
  • SSO Implementation

Deliverables

  • Fully functional and secure web platform.
  • Comprehensive technical documentation.
  • Administrator and user training materials.
  • Ongoing maintenance and support post-launch.

Results

Tufts University, classified as an R1: Doctoral University with very high research activity, is a leader in global health innovation. The Global Health Hub strengthens this position by providing a centralized platform that simplifies collaboration, knowledge sharing, and grant development among researchers, further advancing impactful health initiatives.

  • Successfully replaced complex middleware with streamlined direct Drupal – Modern Campus D1 Integration
  • Completed concurrent Drupal version upgrades without service disruption
  • Implemented near real-time course synchronization
  • Redesigned course content layouts for improved accessibility
  • Enhanced shopping page functionality and user experience

Metric Results:

  • Eliminated the significant annual cost of the original platform.
  • The platform is currently in beta testing, with performance metrics to be provided upon full release.

This project demonstrates Launch Theory’s ability to transform complex technical requirements into elegant, user-friendly solutions while maintaining focus on practical usability. The resulting platform has set a new standard for research collaboration at Tufts University, proving that sophisticated functionality doesn’t have to come at the cost of user experience.

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