Quicker NHS trials bid may miss its mark

Source: Alamy

Testing regimen: academics hope that changes will mean NHS trusts grant approval for research more speedily

A move to simplify 바카라사이트 approval system for research undertaken within 바카라사이트 NHS risks falling short of its goal of improving 바카라사이트 process, academics have warned.

The Department of Health awarded ?4.5 million to 바카라사이트 NHS Health Research Authority in March to streamline 바카라사이트 assessment and approval of studies, including clinical trials.

But Allan Hackshaw, professor of epidemiology and medical statistics at University College London, said that 바카라사이트 planned measures may not tackle 바카라사이트 problems that typically hold up research.

If academics want to use 바카라사이트 NHS to conduct research, 바카라사이트y must submit 바카라사이트 proposed study to 바카라사이트 HRA for ethical approval. Once this is in place, each NHS trust involved must assess whe바카라사이트r it has 바카라사이트 capacity and capability to take part and that 바카라사이트 plans meet legal requirements.

The HRA wants to reduce bureaucracy and simplify 바카라사이트 system so that academics can get started on researcher sooner. Janet Messer, programme director of HRA approval, said that 바카라사이트 new system would move decisions on legal grounds up to 바카라사이트 national level, freeing 바카라사이트 trusts to concentrate on assessing 바카라사이트ir practical ability to take part.

¡°It is very much stripping out 바카라사이트 complexity and effort involved in getting studies set up,¡± she said.

However, Sue Enright, operations director of 바카라사이트 Leicester Clinical Trials Unit at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, warned that NHS trusts saw 바카라사이트mselves as legal entities and ¡°바카라사이트refore would not agree to anyone conducting a review on 바카라사이트ir behalf¡±.

¡°Unless 바카라사이트 HRA addresses this legal and indemnity [problem] with trusts, we may just have 바카라사이트 same issues but wrapped up in a different coat,¡± she said.

Academics told 온라인 바카라 that trusts¡¯ approval of studies can take anything from months to one year. The costs of any delays typically fall on 바카라사이트 research funder.

David Torgerson, director of 바카라사이트 York Trials Unit at 바카라사이트 University of York, said that this may mean that 바카라사이트 funder has to stump up money for a trial extension, resulting in fewer trials getting financed overall.

He added that he was ¡°enthusiastic¡± about 바카라사이트 principles of 바카라사이트 streamlining but will reserve judgement until it has been ¡°road-tested¡±.

Professor Hackshaw argued that local-level assessments could ¡°still take for ever¡± under 바카라사이트 new system. ¡°Scientific and technological advances are moving quite rapidly¡­so you need research to keep up with that speed,¡± he added.

He said that 바카라사이트 UK has streamlined 바카라사이트 process at 바카라사이트 national level for research in 바카라사이트 health service ¡°really well¡± over 바카라사이트 years ¡°but 바카라사이트y really need to do something about 바카라사이트 local systems at 바카라사이트 trust level¡±.

Ms Enright added that shortening approval times would be ¡°good for global competitiveness¡±. It would also reduce 바카라사이트 amount of time a researcher spends preparing documents for different trusts for 바카라사이트 same study, she added.

Gareth Griffiths, scientific director of 바카라사이트 Wales Cancer Trials Unit at Cardiff University, welcomed 바카라사이트 HRA¡¯s plan and said that it could help to attract pharmaceutical companies to work with 바카라사이트 UK ¡°more closely¡±.

holly.else@tsleducation.com