20 May 2006 marks the second International Clinical Trials Day - a day designed to raise awareness amongst patients and the public around the methods and challenges of clinical research. It is also aimed to foster discussion and debate among participants in clinical trials, practitioners, researchers and funders of clinical research.

The day will be marked across a number of European cities with forums of patients and citizens taking part in discussions on transparency, patient protection, information, education, and on their participation in clinical trials. In addition, a workshop and press conference in Brussels under the auspices of the European Commission will celebrate this event.

Much has occurred to strengthen clinical research in the UK since the first International Clinical Trials Day was established in 2005. Major effort and resources have been put into building the UK’s capacity to carry out high quality clinical trials and other well designed studies through the development of the UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN). The UK Health Departments are working closely with the UKCRC and the UKCRN to ensure that the development of this new research infrastructure in the NHS is taken forward through a UK-wide approach.

This week has seen the launch of two major initiatives designed to boost clinical research in the UK:

Diabetes Research Network

The UK Clinical Research Network and the Department of Health have appointed eight Local Research Networks to support the delivery and conduct of clinical diabetes research.

Each network will be tasked with increasing patient and public involvement in diabetes research, as well as supporting workforce development and open and transparent communication.

They will also work closely with their counterparts in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to support the creation of a UK-wide clinical research infrastructure for diabetes research. In Scotland diabetes is one of three identified areas where networks have been established under UKCRN so far, in Northern Ireland diabetes will be supported as part of the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network and in Wales the diabetes network is one of nine thematic research networks.

Further information can be found on the UKCRN website

School for Primary Care Research

Patients are set to receive even better care in primary care settings and will have the opportunity to participate in more research in these areas thanks to a new School for Primary Care Research launched by Health Minister Andy Burnham this week.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research will receive £3million funding per year with the express aim of increasing the evidence base for primary care practice. This will mean research into the huge range of areas of professional practice relevant to primary care. The School will investigate a range of new ways of improving care such as finding new methods of preventing ill health, and evaluating novel ways of providing information to patients and staff.

More information can be found on the Department of Health website