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
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?
Free new UK clinical trials search phone app available
The UK Clinical Trials Gateway has just launched a mobile phone app enabling you to search for information on clinical trials. You can download it through the Apple Store by typing 'UK Clinical Trials Gateway' into the search field. Otherwise appgrabber has it for download here. And its free. Not yet available as a full … Continue reading Free new UK clinical trials search phone app available
Why Georgia is an example to us all on clinical trials
This is a piece I spotted in the local press in Wirral about schoolgirl, Georgia Semple, who is a member of the Young People's Advisory Group for the NIHR Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN). The Group helps with the design of clinical research - from conveying their views and concerns to researchers, to writing … Continue reading Why Georgia is an example to us all on clinical trials
International leaders in cancer research in conversation and a new Channel 4 video on clinical trials
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has a rather nifty web-page at the moment with various leading lights in cancer research talking about cancer therapeutics. They include Bob Brown, chair, translational oncology, Imperial College London. And hear is a rather nifty video explaining drug trials done by Channel 4. Just click on the picture … Continue reading International leaders in cancer research in conversation and a new Channel 4 video on clinical trials
You cluster if you want to…the single most important translational gap in UK clinical research today
A colleague of mine put up two slides at a meeting today which neatly encapsulated for me the key strategic - perhaps translational gap - in uk clinical research right now. On the demand side, the first showed the key results from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) commissioned MORI poll of public attitudes … Continue reading You cluster if you want to…the single most important translational gap in UK clinical research today
Cancer Research UK does not have all the answers..and that’s an invitation to the rest of us
I see that Cancer Research UK last week put out a press statement about the need for the UK to have strategic vision for medical research. You can find further details on their blog and they also issued a document entitled 'Building the Right Environment for Medical Research.' Thoughtfully the announcement and document have been … Continue reading Cancer Research UK does not have all the answers..and that’s an invitation to the rest of us
From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
The summer break has clearly done the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, a world of good. From beating a lone path as the libertarian Claudius in the face of a centralised health service, he has resurfaced this week as the man for all seasons to launch a competition for the best ideas for … Continue reading From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
Science should take heed of the need to make the public its partners if it wishes to avoid calls for its liberation
At the end of last month the Canadian Government announced that it would be going ahead with clinical trials of a controversial new treatment for MS sufferers called 'liberation therapy.' The decision has gone almost unreported outside Canadian shores and yet for those interested in the relationship between science and its public it is a … Continue reading Science should take heed of the need to make the public its partners if it wishes to avoid calls for its liberation
From peer review to clinical trials
So there I was this morning talking about peer review, when what should come through the Ovarian Cancer Action letterbox but our certificate of best practice from the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) for our peer reivew practices. It's great to have this 'quality-mark' for all that we do as a research funder. If … Continue reading From peer review to clinical trials
Clinical trials round-up
Several articles today look at the expansion in the number of clinical trials taking place around the world. The Guardain - prompted by a report published at the World Conference of Science Journalists - looks at the ethical issues arising out of the increasing number of trials in the developing world. This article in Pharma … Continue reading Clinical trials round-up
‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
To begin with, here's more on that Pfizer story about use of mobile phone technology etc in clinical trials. It seems to have piqued an interest among many of you anyway. Also on the subject of clinical trials, I was rather perplexed by this story running out of the NHS Confederation this morning. I'm delighted … Continue reading ‘Scroll down’ for clinical trials
International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
It is International Clinical Trials Day today and The Cochrane Library has worked with the UK Medical Research Council's Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research to produce a set of new podcasts about clinical trials - well worth a listen. There was a conference in Vienna this morning organised by the European Clinical Research … Continue reading International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
Clinical trials on the world stage
I shall no doubt wax lyrical about something later in the day but for the moment, given that it is Friday, I would highly recommend this article/special report by Ben Hirschler of Reuters on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the globalisation of clinical trials. And while I am at it, special mention of the … Continue reading Clinical trials on the world stage
Department of Health about to have a Field day taking calls, I believe.
The NHS seems to be dominating my life this week. Quite apart from the news headlines, it has involved two visits to the doctors and a blood test so far ..but I am on the mend I am pleased to report. All I can say is, a 45 minute wait for a blood test and excellent … Continue reading Department of Health about to have a Field day taking calls, I believe.
NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
I really would encourage you to read this morning's article in The Guardian about the impact of the NHS reforms on doctor expertise and research. Its the first article that I've seen thus far which really conveys the message about health research that AMRC has been trying to put across and on which we anticipate stepping up … Continue reading NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
mICRA, PROSPERO, Beddington and Bell
Announcements are like buses. There are none for what seem like days and then several come all at once. My job is to make sure you get on the right one... NIHR has several announcements out today which AMRC and its members have had some involvement or interest in. The first is the launch of the new … Continue reading mICRA, PROSPERO, Beddington and Bell
Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Dear Member of Parliament, This afternoon the Health and Social Care Bill will recieve its Second Reading in the House of Commons. The legislation sets out a far-reaching programme for reforming the NHS and the provision of patient care. The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and its 127 member charities believe that high quality … Continue reading Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Health and social care reforms on trial
What better starting point for today's blog than the comments of two leading clinicians speaking about the importance of clinical trials to patient outcomes. First, Dr Duncan Wheatley, a Clinical Oncologist and Lead for Research in the South West Peninsula, who is quoted in a BBC Cornwall story today about medical research at the Royal … Continue reading Health and social care reforms on trial
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