The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) CRN CC has today published its clinical research activity report for the final quarter of 2011/12. Some of the data and a good summary of what they mean is also available on The Guardian website. Last year was the first that this sort of information was made widely available. So … Continue reading Clinical trials activity report for England highlights progress but much work still to be done
clinical research
There is no point to the javelin
It has come to this. The world's top tennis players rush their shots to beat an 11pm curfew. Bruce and Sir Paul are turned-off mid-performance. And they don't use real javelins in schools. Looking across the the athletics field at my sons' school sports day, I spied a clutch of children competing in the javelin. Except this … Continue reading There is no point to the javelin
The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research
The Shard went up (officially). And the NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate came down from on high. All on the same day. Add the odd torrential downpour with its associated misery and these could be Biblical times. I have come to the conclusion that it is my fate to be locked away somewhere remote and with an intermittent … Continue reading The NHS Commissioning Board Draft Mandate and patients in health research
PLoS ONE study – I’d go further: poor quality information undermines rights of clinical trial participants
On my recent visit to Newcastle, my afternoon was spent talking to, and answering questions from, the public about research. Clinical trials featured heavily. The most common theme was their frustration over the poor quality information given to trial participants before, during and after a trial had finished. The journal, PloS ONE, has today published a … Continue reading PLoS ONE study – I’d go further: poor quality information undermines rights of clinical trial participants
Pfizer undaunted by social media hurdles in clinical trial recruitment
This was reported last week in the US press but I have not seen it covered here in the UK. Pfizer has reeled-in its social media strategy for recruiting patients to a US clinical trial of over-active bladder drug, Detrol. But it hopes to come back next year with a renewed 'virtual trial strategy.' In the meantime … Continue reading Pfizer undaunted by social media hurdles in clinical trial recruitment
The life sciences, the public and the growth agenda…its not just about bums on seats
This is an extract from a talk I gave on Monday to the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Newcastle. I tried to answer the following question: The life sciences are seen as fundamental to the nation’s health and to economic growth. But what is the public’s role in making this happen? The … Continue reading The life sciences, the public and the growth agenda…its not just about bums on seats
HSJ ‘Progressive Research Culture’ Award 2012: Open for entries
It's that time of year again to get your local NHS Trust to enter this year's Health Service Journal (HSJ) 'Progressive Research Culture' Award. This follows the success of last year's award which saw over 40 Trusts enter. Further details from the NIHR CRN CC website. I'm delighted that the nine criteria include these two: - Evidence of … Continue reading HSJ ‘Progressive Research Culture’ Award 2012: Open for entries
Consortium publishes new principles for transparency in clinical trials/The Guardian debate on public engagement in research
So, this has been fairly well-reported already. But in a show of my utmost commitment to the transparency agenda here is a link to the news release on the Royal College of Physicians (RCP website) about yesterday's launch by the Ethical Standards in Health and Life Sciences Group (ESHLSG) (a consortia of professional, medical and commercial … Continue reading Consortium publishes new principles for transparency in clinical trials/The Guardian debate on public engagement in research
In 2013 we want every hospital to be doing this on International Clinical Trials Day…
This from the Dorset Echo about Dorset County Hospital's very simple approach to promoting the importance of taking part in clinical trials on International Clinical Trials Day yesterday. Happy to post other examples if people have any.
Survey raises questions over NHS research
So it was an early start for me today, doing radio interviews for International Clinical Trials Day today. I'll post the links to one or two when available. Here's the press release from NIHR CRN which was the news peg for the interviews. NEWS RELEASE TEXT (HEADLINE AS ABOVE) The results of a new survey, published on … Continue reading Survey raises questions over NHS research
The Academy reports on research regulation…and a reminder of the Guardian’s Q&A about public involvement
The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) today published its report of the meeting it held a few months ago, looking at progress with improving the regulatory of environment for medical research. I blogged about being a panellist at the meeting as you may recall. The report's conclusions are noteworthy for the second bullet point about public … Continue reading The Academy reports on research regulation…and a reminder of the Guardian’s Q&A about public involvement
We need more than better chat-up lines to increase participation in research
'Pedestrian freight.' It is a term I had not come across until last week. I believe it is the phrase once used inside train companies to describe you and I, the commuters who throng with fortitude through our stations up and down the land every day. Perhaps it still is, I don't know. Such 'internal' phrases can … Continue reading We need more than better chat-up lines to increase participation in research
Exploring the partnership between patients and researchers – photography exhibition at UCH, London.
If you are at a loose end between now and the end of June, then this exhibition at the Street Gallery of University College Hospital looks well worth the visit. Award winning photographer Clare Parks joined forces with researchers and patients to explore their feelings about clinical research in photographs. The images are really quite … Continue reading Exploring the partnership between patients and researchers – photography exhibition at UCH, London.
DH and charities reach acoRD over medical research costs
Divvying up the costs of conducting research in the NHS funded by medical research charities is an intricate business. Who pays for that research nurse, their time in administering the extra treatment required in a clinical trial, the procedures and equipment needed as part of its conduct, the oversight and governance needed to ensure that things are done … Continue reading DH and charities reach acoRD over medical research costs
“I thought, if nothing else comes out of this, I might be of service to other people” – ‘The Big C,’ NPR and clinical trials talk
Image via WikipediaTo begin with, this blog was going to be about the portrayal of clinical trials in popular drama, inspired by the current US show 'The Big C.' The latest episode runs on More4 tonight at 10pm. If you haven't seen it, then I strongly recommend a viewing. It is well-written, honest - to the point of sassy at … Continue reading “I thought, if nothing else comes out of this, I might be of service to other people” – ‘The Big C,’ NPR and clinical trials talk
Michael J Fox? Hugh Grant? Thom Yorke? Who’s next to enter ‘clinical trials get me into it?’
Great launch last night for healthtalkonline's new clinical trials modules in which parents and young people talk about their experiences, warts and all. I think the next module in the offing is on 'Biobanking' with quite a few more in development. It is a strange but true and rather brilliant fact that the actor Hugh … Continue reading Michael J Fox? Hugh Grant? Thom Yorke? Who’s next to enter ‘clinical trials get me into it?’
BMJ talks tough on clinical trial data and the public interest
The BMJ publishes several papers today looking at the harm being done to research, patient care and the public interest by the incomplete disclosure or withholding of clinical trial data. Click here for the BMJ's editorial written by Dr Richard Lehman from Oxford University and the journal's clinical epidemiology editor Dr Elizabeth Loder. An example of the … Continue reading BMJ talks tough on clinical trial data and the public interest
Obama goes troubleshooting on clinical trials
Is it me or does anyone else think that No 10 could have perhaps chosen more wisely its choice of title for the new army of individuals who David Cameron says will help 'trouble' families: 'troubleshooters' doesn't sound quite right? This only a week after No 10 made a complete hash of the 24 hours … Continue reading Obama goes troubleshooting on clinical trials
How’s your NHS Trust doing in the research league tables? Is Leeds the Man City of NHS Research? Does Bridgewater deserve the hairdrier treatment?
So NIHR CRN CC/The Guardian have today published a league table of how each NHS Trust is performing in research as defined by the number of research studies and the number of patients taking part. I believe this is the first time such a table has been compiled and a thoroughly good thing it is … Continue reading How’s your NHS Trust doing in the research league tables? Is Leeds the Man City of NHS Research? Does Bridgewater deserve the hairdrier treatment?
In defence of the clinical trial patient: a health research ombudsman?
Over a half a million members of the British public took part in clinical trials through the NIHR Clinical Trials Research Networks in 2010, a 24% increase on the year before. Those are the Government's figures, not mine. Last week's 'life sciences' announcement included a range of measures to increase patient recruitment to trials. These include … Continue reading In defence of the clinical trial patient: a health research ombudsman?
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