New collaboration gives a boost to clinical trials
A new body — the UK Clinical Research Collaboration — has been set up to expand the range of clinical trials conducted within the NHS and to speed up the development of new medicines.
The collaboration will establish NHS research networks, based on the
model used for cancer research networks, bringing together clinical teams,
primary care trusts, the voluntary sector and industry.
Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, diabetes, mental health and children’s
medicine will be the first new networks to be established with funding
of £24m. An extra £7m will be available to fund additional
research and to support more trials in these areas.
Tony Moffat, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s chief scientist,
welcomed the move. “It’s an exciting initiative that should
get medicines to patients far more quickly.” He added that, from
a patient’s point-of-view, the target areas looked sensible.
Launching the initiative, Lord Warner said: “Driving forward research
in less favoured areas will enable us to promote an even more active
research culture in the NHS”.
Ian Wong, director of the Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research at
the School of Pharmacy, University of London, said pharmacists could
provide a unique input. In particular in the areas of formulation, including
paediatric formulation, clinical trial supply and improving patient’s
adherence by providing appropriate counselling.
Trevor Jones, director general of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry said: “This will be a further major boost to the clinical
research infrastructure in this country, making it even more competitive
internationally.”
The UKCRC will co-ordinate existing research and funding, identify gaps
where more research is needed and develop incentives for NHS clinicians
to become research active. It will consist of representatives of the
main funding bodies for clinical research in the UK, as well as representatives
from industry, the Government and the public.
Liam O’Toole, acting chief executive of UKCRC, said: “This
new body will play a key role in ensuring a coherent approach to funding
research in the NHS. We have the opportunity to build on the success
of the National Cancer Research Institute and cancer networks by coordinating
clinical research and identifying gaps in capability and programmes”.
NHS Innovation The organisation that promotes commercial benefits
from NHS innovation, Intellectual Property for the NHS, will have
a new director in September following the retirement of Tony Bates.
The new director is Marie Smith who is currently chief executive
officer of Manchester Innovation Ltd responsible for commercialising
innovation at Manchester University. She said: “There is
a huge pool of talent in the NHS and many people are developing
really
good ideas for better health care products, devices and techniques.
My aim is that we turn more of
these good ideas into commercial
reality.”
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