The University of Exeter's Clinical Trials Unit will launch next month. Image courtesy of Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Blend Images/Corbis. 

New Exeter Clinical Trials Unit boost to health research

The University of Exeter’s new dedicated unit to facilitate and conduct clinical trials in health research will officially launch next month.

Clinical trials are research studies undertaken in human volunteers or patients to assess the risk and benefits of medicines or other health treatments. The results from clinical trials are a key source of information used by clinicians and policy makers to decide which new treatments should be approved for wider use in the general population and be funded by the health service.

Clinical trials units (CTUs) are specialist units with a specific remit to design, conduct, analyse and publish clinical trials and other well-designed studies.

Increasingly, CTUs are being recognised nationally and internationally as key elements of delivering high quality clinical and health research.

Professor Rod Taylor, Director of the Exeter Clinical Trials Unit, said: “Today’s clinical trials are increasingly complex and highly sophisticated in terms of their methods and regulatory requirements. The Exeter CTU brings together specialists from a range of disciplines to support our research community in navigating this world of complexity and design. Our unit will facilitate high quality, efficient, and timely clinical trials that address important health questions. Having this multidisciplinary specialist facility in Exeter will further strengthen the region’s position at the cutting-edge of healthcare and research.”

The launch, on 1st November, will feature a keynote lecture from Professor Julia Brown, Director of Leeds Clinical Trials Research Unit & Director of UK Clinical Research Collaboration Clinical Trials Unit Network. Speaking ahead of the launch, Professor Brown said: “I’m delighted to be part of this launch. The Exeter Clinical Trials Unit incorporates high quality expertise and is already a valued new addition to the delivery of clinical trials in the South West, nationally, and internationally.”

Professor Angela Shore, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean (Interim) at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: “At Exeter, we pride ourselves in swiftly translating research into practice which benefits the public. The new Exeter Clinical Trials Unit will accelerate that process, while ensuring the highest standards are maintained.”

To find out more, visit the ExeCTU website.

Date: 24 October 2016