External resource sites

links to to other trials sites

External Resources

The Network includes here a list of external resources to support those undertaking trials in the UK.

Training courses run by the Network and its partners are listed here.

For patient and public information on clinical trials in the UK please see the NHS pages or, for more information on public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research see the Involve website.

Click on the titles below for more information.

NIHR Clinical Trials Toolkit
Practical advice to researchers in designing and conducting publicly funded clinical trials in the UK.


The Clinical Trials Toolkit provides practical advice to researchers in designing and conducting publicly funded clinical trials in the UK. Through the use of an interactive routemap, this site provides information on best practice and outlines the current legal and practical requirements for conducting clinical trials.

MRC START
Aims to improve the evidence-base concerning recruitment to trials, enhance recruitment rates and make research more accessible to the public


The latest evidence shows that 45% of all publicly-funded clinical trials fail to recruit their target number of participants.

The aim of MRC START is to improve the evidence-base concerning recruitment to trials, enhance recruitment rates and make research more accessible to the public.

COMET
Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials


Started with seed funding from the Network, the COMET (Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials) Initiative brings together people interested in the development and application of agreed standardised sets of outcomes, known as ‘core outcome sets.

These sets represent the minimum that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials of a specific condition, and are also suitable for use in clinical audit or research other than randomised trials. The existence or use of a core outcome set does not imply that outcomes in a particular trial should be restricted to those in the relevant core outcome set. Rather, there is an expectation that the core outcomes will be collected and reported, making it easier for the results of trials to be compared, contrasted and combined as appropriate; while researchers continue to explore other outcomes as well.

COMET aims to collate and stimulate relevant resources, both applied and methodological, to facilitate exchange of ideas and information, and to foster methodological research in this area.

CONSORT statement
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement


The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement (CONSORT), encompasses various initiatives developed by the CONSORT Group to alleviate the problems arising from inadequate reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The PRO CONSORT extension was supported by a Network funded project to develop guidance for authors of trials describing patient-reported outcomes. Specifically, it extends five items of the CONSORT 2010 checklist to facilitate optimal reporting of RCTs in which PRO's are primary or secondary end points.

NHS R&D Forum
The Forum offers a range of training courses all designed and delivered by experienced Forum members and trainers.


Leading, promoting, shaping & influencing quality health research.

Handling Missing Data
LSHTM, ESRC Research Development Initiative


This site exists to support researchers from the social and medical sciences with the analysis of incomplete datasets, and as a focus of statistical research. If you are planning a study, or analysing a study with missing data, their guidelines are for you.

DIRUM
Database of Instruments for Resource Use Measurement


Supported with funding from the Network, DIRUM is a project by the HTMR Network to compile a Database of Instruments for Resource Use Measurement. Led by Bangor University, and this includes a practical, open-access database of resource-use questionnaires for use by trial health economists.

SPIRIT statement
Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials


The protocol of a clinical trial is essential for study conduct, review, reporting, and interpretation. SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) is an international initiative that aims to improve the quality of clinical trial protocols by defining an evidence-based set of items to address in a protocol.

Multi-parameter Evidence Synthesis Research
Site includes code, courses, publications and more


Multi-Parameter Evidence Synthesis (MPES) is a generalization of meta-analysis, broadened and extended so that it can combine not only evidence from different sources and different research designs, but also evidence that informs different functions of parameters.

The programme of research is strongly oriented to a medical decision making context and to economic evaluation, but some of the syntheses we have carried out are exercises in descriptive epidemiology.

UKCRC CTU Network
Site includes courses, publications and information


The UKCRC Registered CTU Network is committed to providing its members with the information, guidance and representation in order to successfully support member activities in high quality, efficient, effective and sustainable clinical trials research in the UK. A work programme has been developed in consultation with the UKCRC Registered CTU Working Group, funders and Registered CTU Directors.

Trial Managers Network
Online forum for Trial Managers in the UK


Providing a forum for Trial Managers to network, collaborate and share information on best practice for the effective management and delivery of clinical trials.

The UK Trial Managers' Network (TMN) is a vibrant hub of over 400 Trial Managers working towards the efficient delivery of clinical trials and well-designed studies.

The Network is run by Trial Managers for Trial Managers and has been primarily developed to facilitate the sharing of expertise and knowledge in order to implement best practice in the management of clinical trials. The Network also seeks to promote a shared understanding of the role and value of effective trial management within clinical research.

The UKTMN is hosted by Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford.

HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) Ireland
Initiative to strengthen the methodology and reporting of trials on the island of Ireland

Ireland


The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) is a new, collaborative initiative between a number of Irish and international higher education institutes and methodology centres. Their site hosts webinars, details on training and more information on trials methodology.

Pharmacogenetics and Stratified Medicine Network
Supporting the delivery of stratified medicine to patients

UK


The UK Pharmacogenetics and Stratified Medicine Network is an organisation dedicated to developing research partnerships between academics, healthcare professionals, industry partners, regulatory bodies and the public, to support NHS delivery of stratified medicine to patients.

Society for Clinical Trials
International membership organisation


The Society for Clinical Trials is an international and multidisciplinary society of individuals who share a passion and commitment to advancing the methodology and conduct of clinical trials.

The Annual Meeting of the Society for Clinical Trials is a multidisciplinary program with broad participation. The Meeting brings together the clinical trials community from academia, the pharmaceutical and device industries, government agencies, medical groups and centers and clinical research entities.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Children and clinical research


The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is an independent body that examines and reports on ethical issues in biology and medicine. It was established by the Trustees of the Nuffield Foundation in 1991, and since 1994 it has been funded jointly by the Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council. The Council has achieved an international reputation for advising policy makers and stimulating debate in bioethics.

Clinical research involving children is essential to increase our understanding of childhood conditions and improve healthcare for children. Yet professionals and parents often feel uneasy about asking children to take part in research, for example because of potential risks or burdens.

The Cochrane Collaboration
Cochrane exists so that healthcare decisions get better.


Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. Cochrane contributors (37,000 from more than 130 countries) work together to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Many contributors are world leaders in their fields - medicine, health policy, research methodology, or consumer advocacy - and their groups are situated in some of the world's most respected academic and medical institutions.

The Equator Network
Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research


The EQUATOR Network is an international initiative that seeks to improve reliability and value of medical research literature by promoting transparent and accurate reporting of research studies.

Farr Institute
Advancing Health Informatics through cross-centre collaboration


The Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research comprises four nodes distributed across the UK and led from the University College London (Farr Institute @ London), University of Manchester (Farr Institute @ HeRC N8), Swansea University (Farr Institute @ CIPHER), and the University of Dundee (Farr Institute @ Scotland).

The Farr Institute aims to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge research linking electronic health data with other forms of research and routinely collected data, as well as build capacity in health informatics research.

PERSEVERE
Principles for handling end-of-participation events in clinical trials research


Persevere was a collaborative project to develop guiding principles for managing ‘withdrawal’ and other participation changes in clinical trials – a challenging area for various reasons that is not optimally addressed by existing guidance.

INVOLVE
Supports public involvement in research


INVOLVE was established in 1996 and is part of, and funded by, the National Institute for Health Research, to support active public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. It is one of the few government funded programmes of its kind in the world.

As a national advisory group our role is to bring together expertise, insight and experience in the field of public involvement in research, with the aim of advancing it as an essential part of the process by which research is identified, prioritised, designed, conducted and disseminated.

Other useful sites

 

The HTMR Network is not responsible for the content of any external websites. Deadlines are correct at time of circulation. It is the applicants responsibility to ensure the correct submission deadline for any external funding scheme or for conference/course registration.