The MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research held its first workshop entitled “Using Existing Data to Inform Clinical Trial Design” on March 16, 2010 at Goodenough College, London.
The workshop explored the ways in which existing data can be used to plan new clinical trials. Topics of discussion included the use of animal models, prior meta-analysis, and manipulating data using value of information analysis and Bayesian methods to help prioritise and design trials.
This very successful workshop included ninety participants, with representatives from registered trials units, universities, research networks, clinical teams, and public and patient involvement stakeholders. Five speakers from the MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research described various methods for assessing information and incorporating it into trial design.
The outcome of the workshop was a greater understanding of how to use existing data to design trials, as well as identifying where more research is needed in order to implement these methods in trial design.