The UK Registered Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Network is seeking a highly experienced professional with specialist knowledge in clinical trials to contribute Quality Assurance (QA) expertise to its International Registration Review Committee (IRRC).

The committee is responsible for reviewing all applications for new and ongoing membership and, as such, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the Network continues to promote excellence and integrity in non-commercial research.

The successful candidate will have a wealth of experience, knowledge, and acumen within the field of non-commercial/academic clinical trials research, demonstrate an excellent understanding of best practice as well as current drivers for change.

A more detailed role description, and information on how to apply, can be found below in the applicant information pack below.

• Applicant information pack

As the collective voice of non-commercial and academic clinical trials units, the Network plays an important role in engaging with Government, funders, regulators, and patients to improve and strengthen clinical research in the UK. The Network is seen internationally as an exemplar for the development of national clinical trials support. It was established in 2007, and its members are committed to setting and sharing good practice and improving standards in clinical trials.

Our Network is funded by its members, and major funders have representation on the Network’s Executive Group, this includes; Cancer Research UK, NIHR, Arthritis UK, as well as devolved nations representation such as Health and Social Care Research Wales.

The deadline for applications is 6pm on 4 September 2026.

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Find out more about the work of the Network and Registered CTUs here.

To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

South Asian Heritage Month was officially launched in 2020, with more than 150 official and unofficial events taking place across the UK. Since then, it has grown into an annual celebration, recognised both nationally and internationally, bringing together workplaces, schools, cultural organisations and communities to celebrate the rich histories, cultures and contributions of South Asian people.  This year’s theme is Unity in Diversity.

Beyond the celebrations, the South Asian Heritage Trust plays an important role in driving lasting change. Through its work, the Trust helps organisations and communities better understand and value heritage, challenge inequalities, and create environments where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.

Our commitment to diversity in trials

Diversity in clinical trials is essential to ensuring research is equitable, relevant, and beneficial to all communities. This applies not only to those who participate in trials, but also to the teams that design, deliver and lead them. The Network is committed to promoting inclusive trial design, increasing representation across diverse populations, and addressing barriers that may prevent people from taking part in research.

South Asian Heritage Month provides an opportunity to recognise and highlight the many ways Clinical Trials Units are engaging with, supporting, and celebrating South Asian communities.

Read some of the stories and initiatives below to find out more.

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Using AI to improve research inclusion

Assessing the accuracy and accessibility of AI vs human translations of patient-facing clinical trial documents

Being unable to read or speak English is an exclusion criterion for many trials and therefore people from ethnic minority and migrant backgrounds may be excluded. But translation is expensive and often not covered by trial budgets.

AI offers quick, free machine translation but evidence for its accuracy and accessibility is lacking, particularly in medical fields where complex information needs to be conveyed accurately and clearly.

In this project, the team is comparing machine translation of trial documents such as Participant Information Sheets (PIS) and Informed Consent Forms (ICF) using AI applications to translations done by professional human translators in several different languages, including Punjabi, and assessing them for accuracy, tone and potential loss of nuance using a dual-layered qualitative analysis.

Final analysis and write-up is currently ongoing and the results of the project will be presented in an oral presentation at the International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference in September 2026.

Potential relevance and future impact

As part of the analysis, the project has involved working with native Punjabi speakers (as well as speakers of Polish and Mandarin) who have reviewed the translated documents and given experiential feedback as to the quality and accessibility of the translations.

Following this foundational pilot, the SCTU team has secured funding to further evaluate AI translation tools in real-world trial settings, assessing uptake of translated documents and conducting qualitative interviews with recruitment staff and trial participants. This will involve more languages, including other South Asian languages, and will provide further evidence on the accuracy and acceptability of AI translations, their potential impact on diversity of trial participants, and the creation of best practice guidelines for future use of AI translations by trial teams.

The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit has expertise in methodology research and embedding studies into trials through SWATs and other qualitative practices. The project lead for this project sits on several national networks looking at research inclusion in clinical trials, including as chair of the UK Registered CTU Network Research Inclusion Group and as a member of the Cancer Research UK CTU Research Inclusion Group and UK Clinical Research Inclusion Group.

Find out more about this project here – https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ctu/methodology.ai-translation.page

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Managing Type 2 Diabetes in Nepal: HoDiRECT and CoDIRECT

HoDiRECT and CoDiRECT are designed to evaluate a community-based diet programme in achieving and sustaining T2D remission. The intervention emphasizes whole-food, nutrient-dense dietary patterns tailored to the local context and delivered through community support structures. It incorporates practical dietary education, including food preparation demonstrations. By leveraging a real-world, community-driven approach, these aim to generate evidence on the feasibility, effectiveness, and long-term impact of dietary intervention in T2D management and broader metabolic health improvements.

The HoDiRECT Nepal project demonstrated the feasibility of a low-calorie traditional Nepali diet for diabetes remission. It concluded that improving diabetes literacy within communities and emphasizing the role of diet, as a potentially more effective intervention than medication, is critical. Consistent, confident and supportive engagement from healthcare professionals, along with clear communication about dietary practices is likely to reinforce behaviour change.

“(We are doing) this for our own body; there are no negative aspects in my opinion.”

CoDIRECT develops this into a randomised control trial of the diet intervention as the initial treatment for newly diagnosed patients, conducted at 3 Urban Health Centres (UHCs) of Dhulikhel Municipality due to conclude in early 2028.

Further information can be found at https://www.directclinicaltrial.org.uk/CoDirectNepal.html

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A celebration at the Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology (ICTM) at UCL

Perhaps the most powerful message of the afternoon was her reminder that confidence is not the starting point – courage is. By taking courageous first steps, confidence follows, a message that resonated strongly with colleagues across the room.

Delivered by the ICTM EDI Team, the event was created to provide an opportunity for colleagues to learn more about South Asian heritage, celebrate the diversity within our community, strengthen connections across the ICTM and leave feeling inspired.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, contributed artefacts and food, shared their stories, and helped make this inaugural South Asian Heritage Month celebration such a memorable success. 

We look forward to building on its success in the years to come.

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You can learn more about the Network’s commitments in its Strategy for 2025 – 2030 here.

To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

How does chocolate help introduce clinical trials research to children and their families?

In May 2026, staff from the Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research (LICTR) took part in the University of Leeds Be Curious event. Be Curious is a university open day with a difference. It’s for families to visit the university for a day of free activities which are centred around the research that happens across the university. You can find out more about Be Curious here.

At Be Curious LICTR staff, a mix of members from statistics, data and trial management, introduced clinical trials research using an interactive activity called “The Chocolate Trial”. The activity asks event attendees to become trial participants and help to answer the question “Which type of chocolate makes people happier?” using the key stages of a clinical trial.

How does a Chocolate Trial work?

There have been a few iterations of the chocolate trial since LICTR first ran it in 2022, but the premise stays the same:

Information and Consent: Participants are introduced to the activity and told what will happen at every stage. We have made a brief participant information sheet for the activity which has information about the different stages of the chocolate trial, as well as a “Science Behind It” section, for them to take home. They are also asked about their dietary requirements. This starts a conversation about informed consent and eligibility criteria to ensure a trial is safe for everyone to take part.

Baseline Characteristics: Participants tell us which kind of chocolate they prefer and answer the question “How happy are you now?” by putting a sticker on a sticker chart. The shape and colour of the sticker show age and chocolate preference which helps participants to think about who has taken part in the chocolate trial so far.

Randomisation: Participants are allocated milk or white chocolate by choosing a ball out of a bag. This starts a conversation about what would happen if everyone could choose which kind of chocolate they eat and whether that would make the experiment fair.

Intervention: Participants get to eat their chocolate*!

Data Collection and Results: Participants answer the same question they answered at baseline: “How happy are you now?” by putting a sticker on another sticker chart. This allows participants to compare the before and after sticker charts, see any patterns and discuss the results so far.

*Dairy free options are also available to support inclusion!

This year over 350 people took part in “The Chocolate Trial”! Full results can be found here: https://padlet.com/ahuntermattacks/be-curious-chocolate-trial-2026-7kfyyzi4eyqw1dtg

Here’s what some of the staff members and the public said about the event this year:

“It was really fun to do and interesting to see what children know/don’t know about clinical trials. I didn’t learn about clinical trials until I was much older so I enjoyed being able to teach children about it and get them interested in the subject.” – Staff Member

“I enjoy meeting members of the public and giving them an idea of the work we do in this case through a child friendly activity.” – Staff Member

“You have really thought about how to engage all age groups with this trial process” – Member of the Public

“A must every year!” – Member of the Public

Run your own Chocolate Trial

If you are interested in more information about this work please contact the LICTR Engagement Team (CTRU-Engage@leeds.ac.uk). We are happy to share tips and our materials on request. All we ask in return is some brief feedback once your activity has taken place!

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Find out more about the work of the Network and Registered CTUs here.

To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

Interim Guidance on Responsible AI Use

As part of this effort, the Network has issued an interim position statement outlining key principles for the responsible use of AI. This includes a strong emphasis on maintaining ethical standards and regulatory compliance while the field continues to evolve.

“Pending the development of a formal UKCRC CTU Network AI framework and guidance, CTUs using AI technologies should ensure that any use of AI is proportionate, transparent, appropriately governed, and aligned with existing institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and professional standards.

The use of AI must protect the rights, safety, dignity, and confidentiality of research participants and individuals, including compliance with applicable data protection legislation (including UK GDPR), information governance requirements, and ethical obligations.

CTUs should ensure that the use of AI does not compromise scientific integrity, data quality, accountability, or oversight responsibilities. Appropriate consideration should also be given to intellectual property, copyright, confidentiality, contractual obligations, and the ownership and use of data and outputs generated through AI systems.

Any use of AI within trial conduct or CTU operations should be subject to appropriate human oversight, risk assessment, validation, and documentation processes, and should follow local institutional guidance and governance arrangements.
This statement is intended as an interim position while the UKCRC CTU AI Thematic Group develops guidance on the safe and responsible use of AI in clinical trial settings.”

Looking Ahead

The Network’s work reflects a broader recognition across the research community that while AI offers incredible opportunities, its integration must be carefully managed. Balancing innovation with robust governance will be critical to ensuring that AI strengthens, rather than undermines, the integrity and trustworthiness of clinical research.

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Find out more about the Network’s Thematic Groups here.

To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

Red4Research 2026 marks the seventh year of this grassroots campaign to highlight the vital role clinical research plays across all areas of healthcare and celebrate those involved in the trials that improve patient care and outcomes. At its heart, Red4Research is a celebration of the collective effort behind clinical research, from the participants who make studies possible, to the trial teams who design and deliver them.  

Why is research so important?

What’s changed this year?

This year’s campaign comes at a pivotal time in the UK research landscape. In April 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) introduced the most significant package of reforms in more than two decades.

The changes include faster assessment processes for first-in-human trials and the introduction of ‘notifiable trials’, a streamlined route designed to help lower-risk studies begin more quickly and allow modifications to be approved at pace, while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Behind the scenes, staff working within Registered CTUs have played a crucial role in preparing for and implementing these reforms. Their ongoing collaboration with regulators, sponsors, funders, and participants is helping to ensure that clinical research in the UK remains both safe and impactful.

Across the Network, staff contributions continue to drive world-class, practice-changing research that benefits patients and their families. This year’s campaign offers an opportunity to recognise and celebrate that work more visibly than ever.

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Find out more about the work of the Network and Registered CTUs here.

The UK Registered Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Network is pleased to announce the release of two new resources aimed at helping trial teams adopt more environmentally sustainable monitoring practices. The materials build on the Network’s Recommendations for Undertaking Greener Monitoring, first published in August 2024, and are designed to support clinical trial units in reducing the carbon footprint associated with study oversight.

Learning from real-world experience

One of the newly released resources explores how greener monitoring approaches are being applied in practice. Drawing on evidence and case studies from active trials and experienced teams, the publication offers insight into how environmental considerations are being integrated into monitoring strategies.

Alongside these case studies, the document sets out the opportunities that trial teams and staff a the research site have identified in implementing greener approaches, as well as the challenges that remain and provides some practical tips and recommendations provided by the trial teams and site teams themselves.

Download your copy here.

Practical checklist for trial teams

The second resource is a concise checklist based on the 2024 recommendations that trial teams can apply at individual study level. This is intended to prompt teams to consider where the environmental impacts of monitoring can be reduced throughout the lifecycle of a trial.

By guiding teams through these considerations, the checklist aims to make greener monitoring decisions more accessible and consistent across studies, regardless of size or complexity.

Download your copy here.

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To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.

The UK Registered Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Network is delighted to announce the next in its series of workshops: “How to be a Great Chief Investigator for Clinical Trials”, taking place in Birmingham on 28 September 2026.

Feedback from the pilot series of workshops in 2024 was overwhelmingly positive, leading to an expanded programme for 2025 – 2028. The initiative has already welcomed over 200 delegates across 7 sessions, with more planned over the next few years.

All sessions to date have received CPD accreditation from the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians, ensuring participants’ professional development is recognised.

The workshop is designed to equip researchers with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel as Chief Investigators, through:

~ Expert guidance from experienced Chief Investigators with a diverse range of backgrounds and specialties.

~ The opportunity to meet and gain insights from specialists at Registered CTUs, including statisticians and trial managers.

~ Interactive activities to develop practical understanding of the issues.

~ A collaborative learning environment that fosters peer support.

A key feature of the workshop is the opportunity to develop your own peer-support network, enabling ongoing collaboration and shared learning beyond the event.

For further information, and to secure your place, please click here.

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Improved outcomes for patients and participants through knowledge-sharing and collaboration is central to the UKCRC Registered CTU Network’s mission, as outlined in its 2025 – 2030 Strategy:

“Our commitment to innovation and learning ensures trials are designed and delivered with excellence, maximising impact while minimising waste.”

This programme also supports the Network’s priorities to develop and nurture the CTU leaders of the future, ensuring sustainability and excellence in clinical research, and to provide an open and supportive environment across both CTUs and the wider research community.

To find out more about the Network’s Strategy for 2025 – 2030, please click here.

The Network is an independent organisation supporting Registered CTUs delivering non-commercial and investigator-led trials across the UK and internationally. Spanning the whole of the UK, it plays an active role in both national and global clinical research initiatives.

In spring 2026, the Network established a series of Thematic Groups to support its 2025–2030 strategy, including the new Sustainability Group.

Sustainability is central to maintaining high-quality, impactful research. The group will support CTUs in two key areas: improving the environmental sustainability of trial delivery and operations, and strengthening long-term business viability and resilience.

How the Group Will Work

Bringing together a diverse range of expertise from across the Network, the group will develop practical resources to help CTUs embed sustainability into their day-to-day work and strategic planning. It will operate through two linked strands; Greener CTUs and Business Sustainability. Membership will span both sub-groups to ensure that outputs take a joined-up view, recognising the close links between environmental responsibility and organisational resilience.

The Greener CTUs strand will focus on providing support to CTUs to consider their environmental impact, promoting emerging research, sharing best practice, and supporting CTUs to use the practical tools available to enable Greener Trials.

The Business Sustainability strand will explore sustainable operating models, promote the value of CTUs, and support more effective engagement with partners, including industry.

Find out more about the group here.

Getting Involved

The group is already meeting to identify priorities and shape its work programme, with a strong emphasis on engaging the wider CTU community to ensure outputs are relevant and useful.

As part of this engagement, and to coincide with World Environment Day, the Sustainability Group is inviting each CTU to nominate a ‘Greener CTU’ representative. This individual will act as a key point of contact for environmental sustainability matters, helping to share information, support collaboration, and connect local activity with Network-wide initiatives.

Looking Ahead

The success of the group will depend on active engagement across the Network, with collaboration and shared learning key to driving meaningful progress in this increasingly important area. By working together and sharing experiences and expertise, the Network hopes to promote practical, meaningful progress in an area that is becoming increasingly central to the future of clinical research.

To find out more about the Network’s Strategy for 2025 – 2030, please click here.

To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or BlueSky.

As we approach World Environment Day on 5 June, this year’s focus on urgent action on climate change feels particularly timely. The record-breaking heatwave seen across the UK in May 2026 has brought the reality of climate impacts into sharp relief, underlining the importance of acting now.

Against this backdrop, we’re proud to mark two years as a Supporter of the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research & Innovation Practice. This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far, and to look ahead at how we continue to embed sustainability across the clinical trials landscape.

By signing the Concordat, we committed to action across three priority areas: leadership and system change, emissions from academic travel, and collaborations and partnerships.  We also agreed to provide annual updates of our progress.  You can find out more below.

Leadership and system change

We recognise that high-quality, impactful research must also be sustainable.

The Network’s Strategy for 2025 – 2030, which was published in June 2026, included a strong commitment to encouraging, supporting, and disseminating sustainable research practices both internally and across our members CTUs.

Since then, we have been working to embed these ambitions into our practice.  This includes the creation of a Sustainability Group which is looking at both environmental sustainability and the broader sustainability of Clinical Trials Units.

Sustainability has also been a recurring theme at several of our national meetings. This includes the CTU Directors’ Meeting in May 2026, which brought together senior leaders from across the Network alongside wider stakeholders to explore key developments in clinical research, including the UKRI’s SPARKHub platform and a dedicated roundtable of CTU leaders on environmental sustainability in clinical trials

Reducing emissions from academic travel

We have continued to build on earlier changes to reduce travel-related emissions. Face-to-face meetings are now fewer and more purposeful, with digital materials provided as standard. Where possible, meetings are combined to minimise journeys, and we have transitioned to lower carbon alternatives for catering.

Our online programme continues to expand, with webinars, roundtables, and specialist clinics providing accessible opportunities to connect and share knowledge. Over the past 12 months, this has included 10 roundtables, 9 clinics, 9 webinars, and 6 user group meetings, bringing together over 1,700 participants without the need for additional travel (up from 1,200 the year before).

This approach is not only reducing environmental impact but also improving accessibility and inclusion across the Network.

Collaborations and partnerships

Working collaboratively remains central to how we drive sustainable change. By sharing knowledge and approaches, Registered CTUs can improve existing processes while also exploring new, more efficient ways of working.

In addition to our sustainability group, other Network groups are exploring how digital tools (including AI) can be used more effectively, as well as how remote alternatives can be built into routine practice.

We also continue to contribute to wider initiatives, including the development, piloting, and dissemination of a carbon footprinting tool for clinical trials with the TMRP Greener Trials Group.

Additional guidance on undertaking greener trial monitoring, with real-world examples drawn from across the Registered CTU Network, has recently been approved and will be shared in the next few weeks

Together, these efforts help reduce duplication, save resources, and support more sustainable research delivery.

Looking ahead

As we enter our third year as a Concordat Supporter, our focus remains on building momentum; working together to make meaningful, lasting improvements in how clinical research is designed and delivered.

Together we can make a difference.

Find out more

~ To learn more about the aims and ambitions of the Concordat click here.
~ To download the Network’s official letter of support from 2024 please click here.
~ You can find out more about World Environment Day, and this year’s focus on urgent climate action, here.

8 – 14 June 2026 is Diabetes Awareness Week.  This year’s focus is on tackling some of the negative attitudes that those living with diabetes still encounter

Diabetes UK estimates that almost 6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes. This figure includes more than one million people who are believed to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. As cases continue to rise, experts are calling not only for better prevention and treatment strategies, but also for a shift in how society understands and talks about the condition.

Diabetes is a complex and often misunderstood health condition. While it is commonly associated with lifestyle factors, the reality is far more nuanced. Oversimplifying what it means to live with diabetes, and why it develops, can contribute to harmful stigma. 

This stigma remains a major challenge for people living with diabetes. Research from Diabetes UK indicates that eight in ten individuals with the condition have experienced negative attitudes, from judgemental comments to harmful stereotypes. Many report being blamed for their diagnosis or subjected to sweeping generalisations about their health and lifestyle.

Healthcare professionals warn that this can have serious consequences, including missed appointments and delayed treatment, ultimately affecting long-term health outcomes.

As part of these awareness efforts we are highlighting progress in diabetes research.

Below you can read about 4 very different trials conducted by Registered Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) that aim to advance treatment and quality of life for people living with diabetes.

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Improving Diabetes Self-Management in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: My Diabetes & Me

Funding has been received from the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme to explore whether a diabetes education programme tailored specifically for people with intellectual disability (DESMOND-ID) can improve self-management of Type 2 diabetes compared to usual care.

The My Diabetes and Me Study is a UK-wide randomised control trial of self-management of type 2 diabetes in adults with intellectual disabilities. The study is led by Professor Laurence Taggart at Queen’s University, Belfast and is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit (NICTU).  

Colette Jackson is the Trial Manager at NICTU for this study and, with her team, has provided excellent support to the 11 participating sites across the UK, facilitating the largest UK randomised controlled trial in this population with 297 participants.

Hear more about the My Diabetes and Me Study at: https://youtu.be/IA07B1xpM9k.

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Treating Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in adolescents: the USTEK1D trial

The trial involved researchers from Cardiff University, Kings College London, Swansea University and the University of Calgary, with the Swansea Trials Unit providing trial management, regulatory advice, data management, statistical analysis, QA, and PPI coordination.

Slowing the immune attack
After 12 months, participants who received Ustekinumab were producing around 49% more of their own insulin compared to those in the control group, who received matched placebo injections.

Laboratory analyses also showed that the treatment reduced levels of immune cells producing the IL-17 protein. Importantly, those participants with the biggest reductions in IL-17-producing cells saw the greatest preservation of their insulin-producing capacity. This provides the first clear trial-based evidence of the damaging role these cells play in T1D.

Next steps
While these findings are encouraging, further studies are needed to confirm the results and to better understand which patients are most likely to benefit. On its own, Ustekinumab does not appear to completely halt the autoimmune process, and some loss of insulin-producing capacity occurs before treatment takes effect.

Future research may look at combining Ustekinumab with other therapies to provide greater protection for insulin-producing cells. Even so, this trial marks an important step forward in the move towards more precise, targeted treatments for T1D, aimed at maximising benefit while minimising side effects.

Find out more

STU trial webpage: https://www.swanseatrialsunit.org/trials/ustekid

USTEK1D final report to NIHR: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/eme/FQLN7416

Final results published in Nature Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03115-2

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RECOGNISED – A Randomised Controlled Trial of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Management and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes

CGM is already established in the management of other forms diabetes, and it offers a potentially easier and more convenient method of tracking glucose levels. It can also provide a more detailed and accurate picture of blood glucose patterns, monitoring levels continuously throughout the day and night, enabling clinical teams to optimise care and reduce the risk of complications.

The study, led by Associate Professor Christy Burden (University of Bristol) and Professor Eleanor Scott (University of Leeds) is coordinated by the Bristol Trials Centre (BTC) at the University of Bristol and is due to begin recruitment in early 2027. The BTC will collaborate with 25 maternity centres across the UK to recruit over 2,000 pregnant women from diverse populations with gestational diabetes.

With the support of the experienced team at BTC, the study aims to provide robust, high-quality evidence which could influence national guidance on the use of CGM technology for gestational diabetes.

Further information can be found here: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR170211

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DiRECT – Transforming Type 2 Diabetes Care Through Remission Research

The impact of DiRECT continues to grow. Analyses from the 5-year follow-up data, published in 2026, provided a unique assessment of cost-effectiveness based on actual NHS resource utilisation rather than predicted disease outcomes. The findings suggest that, if implemented routinely across the NHS, the DiRECT/Counterweight intervention becomes cost-saving after approximately five years. Further analyses also showed that routine liver function tests could identify improvements in liver health, with the intervention reversing abnormalities associated with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) in around one-third of participants.

Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit (GCTU) and the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics (RCB) managed the data management, statistical and methodological aspects of the DiRECT trial, with Professor Alex McConnachie serving as Trial Statistician.

Building on the success of DiRECT, GCTU and RCB are also supporting Co-DIRECT Nepal, an ongoing follow-up study adapting the diabetes remission approach for a different healthcare setting. Funded by the Medical Research Council through the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) Healthy Cities Programme, Co-DIRECT Nepal is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial evaluating whether a low-cost, community-delivered dietary intervention can achieve remission of screen-detected type 2 diabetes in Nepal. The study aims to generate evidence on how remission programmes can be implemented sustainably and equitably in low-resource settings.

DiRECT has transformed expectations for people living with type 2 diabetes by demonstrating that remission is achievable for many through significant weight loss. The findings have informed diabetes care nationally and internationally: for example, GPs can now refer people with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes into NHS diabetes remission programmes based on DiRECT around the UK.  This has given thousands of people access to evidence-based interventions that can reduce medication use, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of long-term complications.

The wider impact of the work continues to be recognised. In 2026, the DiRECT diabetes remission programme was shortlisted for the Prix Galien UK Award for Best Public Sector Innovation, reflecting its contribution to improving population health and healthcare delivery.

You can find out more about DiRECT at: https://www.directclinicaltrial.org.uk/

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To keep up to date with the work of the Network follow us on LinkedIn or Bluesky.