If you are interested in science, improving patient choices & treatments, and enjoy working as part of a team, there are many options within academic clinical trials.

In collaboration with the UK Trial Managers Network, we have published an e-flyer to highlight the role of Clinical Trials Units and the types of jobs on offer within them.

The flyer looks at five key areas: Trial Management, Quality Assurance, Information Systems, Statistics, and Data Management, and outlines some of the core activities and skills for each one.

Download your copy to find out more.

We are exceptionally pleased to announce that Prof Rustam Al-Shahi Salman has accepted the offer of a part-time secondment to the UKCRC CTU Network as Clinical Director, after an open application process in 2022.

Rustam is a chair of clinical neurology at The University of Edinburgh, practising honorary consultant neurologist in NHS Lothian, as well as clinical director of the Edinburgh CTU.

He leads the Research to Understand Stroke due to Haemorrhage (RUSH) programme, which is dedicated to improving the outcome for adults who have diseases that may cause, or have caused, stroke due to intracranial haemorrhage.

He also has an interest in increasing the value of biomedical research by minimising waste in the choice of research question, study design, study conduct, regulation, and reporting.  This led to him becoming one of the lead authors of The Lancet’s 2014 Series on Increasing Value and Reducing Waste in Research (www.thelancet.com/series/research) and the related campaign (www.thelancet.com/campaigns/efficiency).

Drawing on his experiences as both a clinician and a clinical trial chief investigator, he will define the scale and scope of what better relationships between clinical trials units and clinical communities look like, plan and carry out some activities to improve this relationship, and what metrics could be used for light touch evaluation of this activity across the UK.

We very much look forward to working with him over the next two years.

The collection and management of robust, reliable, and statistically sound data has long been recognised as a vitally important part of a successful clinical trial and a core activity within a well-functioning clinical trials unit (CTU).

In CTUs, data managers usually work closely with IS teams, or are embedded within them. For that reason, data management has always been within the remit of the IS Operations Group. However, it deserves further attention as a activity in its own right.

In order to raise the profile of this important part of the Groups remit, a number of changes have been made. Firstly, a permanent working group has been established to take data management activities are taken forward. Four workstreams have been identified and the teams will begin meeting this year. The workstreams are:

1. CRF/eCRF Development
2. Data validation and query process
3. Study database lifecycle
4. Working with external/third party data sets

Secondly, the name of the Group has been changed to Data and Information Systems Operations Group (DaIS for short).

We look forward to sharing updates on the work of the four data management workstreams, as well other DaIS outputs, throughout the year.

Find out more about the Network and its mission here. You can also follow on us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The UKCRC Registered CTU Network are excited to be part of the 6th International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference in Harrogate.

Running from the 3 – 6 October 2022, ICTMC is the leading international platform for researchers and practitioners to present the very latest in trials methodology research. The meeting also offers valuable networking and training opportunities, with over 750 delegates from 22 countries attending in 2019.

As well as a stand in the exhibition hall, the Network has a showcase session “Better Trials Together” (Wednesday 5 October 2022 at 14:00), with sessions on how working together continues to impact and enhance the clinical trials landscape.  Presentations include lessons from the PANORAMIC Trial, an update from an ongoing project to reduce carbon use in clinical trials, and a look at current and future challenges for CTUs, and clinical research more broadly.

Registered CTUs are also featured in most of the parallel sessions and have dozens of posters on view.

Find out more about the conference here.

The UKCRC Registered CTU Network is pleased to support International Clinical Trials Day (20th May 2021).

The event marks the day in May 1747 when James Lind, a Royal Navy surgeon, began what many consider to be the first randomised clinical trial ever undertaken.  Although his trial into the causes of scurvy consisted of just 12 men and ran for only 6 days he was nevertheless able to establish the link between citrus fruits and scurvy.  Worldwide the anniversary of Lind’s trial is now used to raise awareness of clinical trials and honour the work of clinical research professionals. 

To learn more about International Clinical Trials Day or to get involved in activities please visit the ACRP Clinical Trials Day website.

This year, as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the importance of high-quality clinical trials has never been more apparent and many of our Registered CTUs are involved in national and international Covid-19 research.  As members of the research community, we are proud to be continuing James Lind’s legacy.

A full list of nationally prioritised Covid-19 studies can be found on the NIHR website.

If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, the ‘Be Part of Research’ website lets you search for ongoing trials in particular health conditions or locations, including information about how to support COVID-19 research.

We are delighted to announce that Simon Denegri OBE is the new Chair of the UKCRC Registered CTU Network’s Executive Group. Simon is Executive Director of the Academy of Medical Sciences and has held high level positions within the field, having been CEO at the Association of Medical Research Charities and, more recently, NIHR National Director for Patients, Carers and the Public.

Commenting on his appointment, Simon said

“I am excited to be taking on this role and working with the UKCRC Registered CTU Network again. The value of the academic CTU Network has been clearly demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic and the availability of high quality expertise and infrastructure has enabled a speedy, innovative clinical trial response. I look forward to working with them.”

Professor Julia Brown, Network Director, commented that

“Simon was involved in the early development of the CTU Network and we are so pleased that he has re-joined us at what is an important time for the academic research community. We are very proud of the work our members have done in leading innovation in the design and delivery of Covid-19 research.”

The Network would also like to extend its thanks to the out-going Executive Group Chair, Dr Sarah Rudkin, Head of Research Strategy and Growth at Versus Arthritis, who has provided such strong leadership over the last 7+ years.  We are incredibly pleased that she has agreed to remain a member of the Executive Group.

In March 2020, following discussions with a number of stakeholders including regulators (inc. the HRA & MHRA), funders, and CTUs, the Network issued the following guidance on Covid19 contingency planning.  Its aim is to provide advice on assessing priorities and operating in a risk proportionate way during the Covid19 pandemic whilst ensuring a joined up approach across the system.

As always, patient safety is paramount.

The UKCRC Registered CTU Network is carefully following developments in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and we will continue an open dialogue with all parties as the situation unfolds.

Click here to download the guidance.

In May 2019, the UKCRC Registered CTU Network released its new five year strategy.  The document outlines the Network aims over the period 2019 – 2024 and describes they key activities which will be undertaken in support of those aim.  These include:

• Supporting Operations Groups in the areas of Statistics, Quality Assurance, Trial Management, and Information Systems to identify and share good practice, and highlight challenges and opportunities;
• Developing a strong policy function so the views of Registered CTUs are represented, and communicated to key decision makers during consultations, evidence calls and policy development; and
• Creating publicity materials to highlight the important role and high-quality impact of CTUs in the research environment.

For more information this strategy, or to find out how you can work with us, please contact the Secretariat at regctus@leeds.ac.uk.