ECTU expertise covers all aspects of the conduct of clinical trials, including:

• Planning the trial
• Designing the trial
• Recruitment Management
• Managing the data
• Analysing the results
• Complying with ECTU SOPs

ECTU offers assistance with the design and planning of clinical trials, which are to be adopted into its portfolio. Advice on the design and methodology of the proposed trial is available (through the collaboration with the MRC Clinical Trials Methodology Hub) as well as support in the operational planning and budgeting for the study.
 

There are a number of criteria which are considered when adopting a study  for adoption into the ECTU portfolio;  

• The trial must be well-designed and methodologically sound
• The trial poses an important question, the results of which have the potential to impact on the care and/or treatment of patients.
• The trial will be published in a high impact journal.
• The trial design has been reviewed by ECTU and ACCORD for risk assessment and  feasibility.
• The funding secured is sufficient to ensure the completion of the trial
• The trial will be conducted in accordance with ECTU’s SOPs
• The trial dataset will be hosted on a data management system overseen by ECTU
• It is also usual for ECTU to provide a co-applicant for the study.

Please remember that planning a clinical trial can take some time and factor this into the lead-in time for applications.  
 

The MRC Clinical Trials Methodology Hub was established in 2009 and is part of the UK-wide MRC Clinical Trials Methodology network. Charged with developing and promoting excellence in clinical trials methodology and research, the Edinburgh Hub, (led by its Director, Professor Gordon Murray), is closely integrated with ECTU and is able to provide expert advice and guidance on the design of clinical studies.

 ACCORD is the joint initiative of the governance office of the College of Medicine and Veterinary medicine, The University of Edinburgh, and NHS Lothian R&D department. ACCORD is the sponsor of most clinical studies initiated in The University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, and undertakes risk management and oversight on behalf of the sponsor institutions. ACCORD also provides quality management systems, including monitoring of clinical trials.

 
If you have a trial which you think would benefit from adoption by ECTU, then please submit a query, or contact us by email ectu@ed.ac.uk

If you have a trial which would benefit from adoption by ECTU, then please contact us by email at ectu.ed.ac.uk