arc/BSR clinical trials latest
Reproduced from Issue 107 of Arthritis Today
The first tranche of clinical trials into a variety of arthritis conditions – being jointly run by arc and the BSR – look set to start up over the next 12 months, after a lengthy setting-up process.
The arc/BSR Clinical Trials Group has announced that it will formally collaborate with the Medical Research Council's Clinical Trials Unit in London, and will shortly appoint a senior lecturer who will be based within the MRC unit.
"That means our central support facility will be in the MRC Unit, which is highly specialised in carrying out clinical trials, and we will be able to tap into their expertise," explained arc Scientific Officer Dr Madeleine Devey.
"Our senior lecturer will help investigators work up their trial proposals to a very high standard and will advise on all aspects of trial design and statistical analysis."
Each trial group has a mentor who is helping each applicant to produce their trial design, which will then be sent out for peer review as part of the rigorously controlled procedure.
Diseases to be investigated include psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, vasculitis and knee osteoarthritis. arc has committed £1.5m to funding the programme, and is prepared to commit a further £2m over the next five years.
The second wave of applications for clinical trial group funding is now being considered, focussing on the area of orthopaedics.
