International Clinical Trials Day takes place on May 20^th each year, raising awareness of the importance of trials to health care. It highlights how partnerships between patients and practitioners are vital to high quality, relevant clinical trials; such as those funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Events have been organised by the European Clinical Research Infrastructures Network (ECRIN) and a series of podcasts has been compiled by The Cochrane Collaboration.

This collection of evidence pods includes information on how the mega-trials of the last two decades have shown that the recruitment of 20,000 or more patients to a high priority study, such as the NIHR-funded CRASH-2 trial, can have a major impact on the care of millions of other people. It has been prepared in collaboration with the MRC’s Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research, highlighting the role of the Network for conducting and disseminating research into the conduct of trials.

There is also a focus on clinical trials as a source of knowledge for people planning for, and responding to natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies; featuring the Evidence Aid initiative which draws on the work of several of the UK-based Cochrane Review Groups receiving funding from the NIHR. These include the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group which provided much of the material for a new special collection on post traumatic stress disorder. In response to the recent events in Japan, a special collection on radiation exposure is also under consideration.

Professor Mike Clarke, former Director of the UK Cochrane Centre and now Director of the All-Ireland Hub for Trials Methodology Research, said
“International Clinical Trials Day is an opportunity to celebrate the role of research in improving health care. Cochrane reviews, supported by the NIHR, bring information from trials to decision makers, and Evidence Aid strives to speed recovery and improve outcomes for people and communities faced by natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.”

Oxford surgeon, Martin Burton, becomes Director of the UK Cochrane Centre in September.  He comments,
“Engaging patients, clinicians, researchers and research funders in all aspects of clinical trials and evidence synthesis is critical for the future of high quality, high value healthcare.” 

Read about Martin Burton’s appointment.