TY - JOUR
T1 - Activities supporting the growth of Clinical Trial Networks in Australia
AU - Nemeh, Fiona
AU - Buchbinder, Rachelle
AU - Hawley, Carmel M.
AU - Nelson, Mark R.
AU - Waterkeyn, Jacqui G.
AU - Reid, Christopher M.
N1 - Funding Information:
In the United Kingdom (UK), funding for research and clinical trials is integrated into the health care system through the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) [, ]. The ongoing financial support from the government has provided opportunities for patients to join clinical trials and for general practices to undertake research projects. The UK model highlights the success of implementing funding for clinical trials into the healthcare system. Fifteen local Clinical Research Networks (CRNs) have been established and deliver research across 31 specialties []. In 2019/2020, 150,000 participants were recruited into studies in primary care and one third of all English general practices recruited participants []. Ongoing financial support for clinical trials in the UK has resulted in increased enrolment, reduced costs, and faster completion of trials thereby improving delivery of research. It has been argued that this UK model for clinical trials should be implemented in Australia [] or a percentage of total healthcare be allocated to funding clinical trials [].
Funding Information:
Emerging CTN groups often want to know how to obtain startup funding and develop a sustainable funding model for a CTN. Professional and consumer organisations will sometimes provide startup funding. For example, the Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network (ANZMUSC) approached some professional societies and consumer organisations to provide funds for their first meeting []. Some other possible sources of local funding for networks might be through a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding opportunity, such as a Centre for Research Excellence (CRE), Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), or an Australian Research Council (ARC)-linkage grant. A CRE grant enabled establishment of the paediatric emergency department research, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular CTNs []. However, in Australia, grants for clinical trials are usually only 3 to 5 years in duration. This recurrent competitive funding model often results in the loss of staff and knowledge at the end of a grant cycle.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/1/28
Y1 - 2022/1/28
N2 - Clinical Trial Networks in which trialists work collaboratively enable multi-site, large-scale, high-quality clinical trials to be efficiently run. Although the benefits of Clinical Trial Networks are largely known, establishing a Clinical Trial Network can be complex. There are many factors for clinicians and researchers to consider, and there is currently a paucity of information on how to form a Clinical Trial Network. This article provides a suggested roadmap on how to establish a Clinical Trial Network. The Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) is the peak body for Clinical Trial Networks, Coordinating Centres and Registries in Australia, and has produced several resources to support the effective and efficient running of clinical trials. This guide has come about through discussions with members of the ACTA Clinical Trial Network Sector Expansion Reference Group consisting of clinical trialists, clinicians, researchers, and consumers.
AB - Clinical Trial Networks in which trialists work collaboratively enable multi-site, large-scale, high-quality clinical trials to be efficiently run. Although the benefits of Clinical Trial Networks are largely known, establishing a Clinical Trial Network can be complex. There are many factors for clinicians and researchers to consider, and there is currently a paucity of information on how to form a Clinical Trial Network. This article provides a suggested roadmap on how to establish a Clinical Trial Network. The Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) is the peak body for Clinical Trial Networks, Coordinating Centres and Registries in Australia, and has produced several resources to support the effective and efficient running of clinical trials. This guide has come about through discussions with members of the ACTA Clinical Trial Network Sector Expansion Reference Group consisting of clinical trialists, clinicians, researchers, and consumers.
KW - Clinical trial
KW - Clinical Trial Network
KW - Collaboration
KW - Establish
KW - Roadmap
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85123876404
U2 - 10.1186/s13063-021-05974-3
DO - 10.1186/s13063-021-05974-3
M3 - Comment / Debate
C2 - 35090533
AN - SCOPUS:85123876404
SN - 1745-6215
VL - 23
JO - Trials
JF - Trials
IS - 1
M1 - 81
ER -