Group Remit
Sustainability is critical to maintaining high-quality, impactful research and the Network is committed to supporting CTUs in navigating through the ever-evolving research landscape.
Established in spring 2026 to support the Network’s 2025–2030 Strategy, the Sustainability Thematic Group will focus on two key areas: enhancing the environmental sustainability of CTU operations and trial portfolios, and strengthening long-term business viability and resilience.
The group will operate as 2 sub-groups to consider, develop and disseminate resources for CTUs, but membership will cross both sub-groups to ensure that all resources developed pay due consideration to both perspectives of business and environmental sustainability.
Sustainability: Greener CTUs
High Level aims and objectives:
- Provide support to CTUs to consider the environmental sustainability of their operations and trials
- Promote and share information on emerging research in the area of Greener Trials
- Support CTUs in the use of practical tools available to increase consideration of Greener Trials
- Share knowledge on best practice in use across the CTU Network
Sustainability: Business
High Level aims and objectives:
- Promote the value of CTUs
- Help inform thinking on sustainable business models for CTUs through shared insight and discussion
- Consider how CTUs and the Network could engage more effectively with industry
- Share knowledge on different business models
Ongoing Work
To date, the Sustainability Thematic Group is in the early stage of mapping potential projects and deliverables. Members are keen to ensure that any outputs are helpful and meet the needs of the Network and its partners and are therefore planning to undertake some stakeholder engagement on the proposed outputs.
Additionally, Registered CTUs have been asked to provide a named representative to act as the point of contact on all projects, requests and sharing of information related to the environmental sustainability of CTU operations and trial delivery.
Group Membership
- Lisa Fox (Co-Chair) – Assistant Operations Director, Institute of Cancer Research Clinical Trials & Statistics Unit
- Tom St David-Smith (Co-Chair) – Operations Director, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research
- Chris Hayward – Director of Operations, Exeter Clinical Trials Unit
- Emma Hedley – Senior Clinical Trial Manager, Oxford Collaborative Clinical Trials Unit
- Emma Marshall – Trial Manager, Keele Clinical Trials Unit
- Hannah Short – Trial Manager Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre
- Clive Stubbs – CRCTU Pharmacovigilance Manager, Birmingham CRUK Clinical Trials Unit
