09 October 2012
Bristol’s clinical trials units awarded full registration
Clinical Trials Units play an important role in helping to
deliver quality research projects and two units in Bristol have
been awarded full registration by the UK Clinical Research
Collaboration (UKCRC).
The two units to receive full registration are the Bristol
Randomised Trials Collaboration (BRTC), based within the University
of Bristol's School of Social and Community Medicine, and the
Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit (CTEU) based within the
University's School of Clinical Sciences and Bristol Heart
Institute.
The units were two of 46 clinical trials units
(CTU) that have been registered following the 2012 review process,
which was led by an International Review Committee of
experts.
Professor Tom Walley, Director of the National
Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Evaluation, Trials and Studies
Programmes, said: "The NIHR continues to recognise the important
and crucial role played by Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) in helping
to deliver quality research projects. This registration process
confirms the international standard quality of units in the UK and
that the units are capable of delivering the high-standard
required. The NIHR looks forward to continuing activities in
support of these registered units."
Dr Alan Montgomery, Director of BRTC and Dr Chris Rogers,
Director of CTEU, said: "We are delighted to be awarded full
registration. UKCRC registration is a measure of quality and only
awarded to CTUs that can demonstrate a track record of experience
in co-ordinating multi-centre trials, expert staff to develop
studies, robust quality assurance systems and evidence of long-term
viability of capacity for trials co-ordination."
Dr Mary Perkins, UH Bristol Deputy Director of Research and
Innovation, added: "We are delighted that both these clinical trial
units have been awarded full registration by the UKCRC. It is
a testament to the hard work from the teams within the units and to
the quality of their work."
The registration process, which has been running
since 2007, is designed to signpost the available high-quality
expertise to carry out clinical trials in the UK. Clinical Trials
Units are specialist units that include statisticians, trial
managers, information technology specialists and clinicians. The
Registered Units form a network of UK wide Clinical Trials Units
some of which have been registered since the first round of the
process in 2007. To be eligible to apply, the Units had to
demonstrate they were capable of centrally coordinating
multi-centre clinical trials and other well-designed studies,
taking overall responsibility for the design, conduct, data
management, publicity and analysis of a trial in line with
appropriate standards and regulations.
The registration process was coordinated in the
University of Leeds by the UKCRC Registered CTU Network Secretariat
on behalf of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.
A full list of the Registered Clinical Trials
Units is available at www.ukcrc-ctu.org.uk
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