User Roles in OpenClinica are based on the roles typically found in clinical trials or and other forms of clinical research. In the OpenClinica system, the User Role determines the features a user can access within a particular Study or Site. The User Role is specified when the user is assigned to the Study or Site, and can be changed after that. A user can have a different Role at each Study and Site they are assigned to.
The Roles available at the Study level are different from the Roles available at the Site level. The features accessible at the Study level are different than the features that can be accessed at the Site level.
- A user whose Role is at the Study level can perform tasks at the Study level, can perform tasks at each Site within that study, and can set the current level to Study or any Site within the Study.
- A user whose Role is at the Site level can only perform tasks at that Site, although a user can be assigned to multiple Sites.
In OpenClinica some Roles have very similar permissions:
| Study Level Role | Site Level Role | Notes |
| Study Director | n/a | Similar to Data Manager |
| Data Manager | n/a | Similar to Study Director |
| Monitor | Monitor | Roles are the same |
| Data Specialist | Investigator | Roles are similar |
| Data Entry Person | Clinical Research Coordinator | Roles are similar |
| Data Entry Person | Data Entry Person | Roles are similar |
See also the full list of the Permissions for User Roles and Types and User Matrix.