Members of the CHaRT and ACE teams collaborate with the University of Edinburgh to deliver the Edinburgh Clinical Trial Management. The 2024 course was in November. Four of our CHaRT colleagues and one of our PhD students attended the course as delegates. Some reflections from them on the course below.
Azar Alexander-Sefre, PhD Researcher
I attended the Edinburgh Clinical Trial Management Course as I’m considering trial management after my PhD, and it was incredibly insightful. The sessions were engaging, especially the workshops that allowed me to apply what I learned. My key takeaway was the pivotal role of the clinical trial manager in the trials ecosystem and the significant impact they can have. The course has given me a lot to think about and has inspired me to seriously explore this career path.
Becky Bruce, Data Co-ordinator
The Edinburgh Clinical Trials Management Course 2024 gave an interesting and thought-provoking insight to the many levels of trial management and the impact that it has in supporting research. In the breakout sessions it was interesting to be able to share and learn from individuals’ experiences and insight as there was a diverse mix of backgrounds across the groups. The event provides a platform for networking and opportunities between sessions to continue to build on conversations and share knowledge. I attended the course with the hope to expand my knowledge and build my confidence which it very much did as it was educational, inspiring, and left me with a better understanding of my role, the wider picture, the importance of teamwork and how I can implement the knowledge learned going forward.
Louise Campbell, Data Co-ordinator
ECTMC 2024 provided an excellent opportunity to learn, exchange knowledge, and network with like-minded individuals from a variety of clinical trial management disciplines from across the world. Highlights for me were the keynote address from Prof Derek Stewart, an inspiring and inspirational talk about his work and the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement. I also enjoyed the workshops and breakout sessions including Prof Shaun Treweek’s talk on diversity in trials.
Laura Moir, Trial Manager
The Edinburgh Clinical Trials Management Course 2024 was a great mix of thought-provoking talks and engaging breakout sessions. It provided a platform to connect with professionals from diverse backgrounds and gain fresh perspectives on the challenges of trial management. I particularly valued Prof. Amanda Farrin’s inspiring talk on the pivotal role of trial managers in improving patient outcomes. The course was educational, insightful, and impeccably organised, leaving me with plenty of ideas to implement in my work moving forward.
Uzunma Onyeakazi, Assistant Trial Manager
I recently attended the Edinburgh Clinical Trials Management Course 2024, and it exceeded my high expectations. The course seamlessly integrated the three golden threads – PPIE (Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement), sustainability, and efficiency – into every talk and activity. One of the standout moments for me was Professor Derek Stewart's lecture, which emphasized the crucial role of PPI in all stages of clinical trials. His insights reinforced the importance of active involvement of patients and the public in ensuring that the right questions are asked during trial design. I also learnt a lot from Professor Shaun Treweek's session on marketing clinical trials. He provided valuable strategies for improving recruitment, retention, and follow-up, which I am eager to implement in my own trial management role. I commend the organisers for creating a conference rich with opportunities to learn, discuss, and network.
Nicole Sergenson, Trial Manager
As a delegate on this course over a decade ago it was a pleasure to come back as a co-facilitator this year. There was a real variety of job roles and experience levels in attendance which provided some great discussions and opportunities for knowledge sharing round the tables. I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience as a co-facilitator on the course - the delegates came ready with questions and engaged to learn. A particular highlight for me was hearing from Prof Louise Bowman about Monitoring your trials efficiently, there were definitely a few lightbulb moments for me during this lecture!
Seonaidh Cotton, Senior Trial Manager
Although I’ve facilitated at the course for a number of years, there’s always something new to learn! And that’s one of the reasons I love trial management! My highlights were some great discussions with, and questions from, the delegates; Derek Stewart speaking about asking better questions about PPI involvement in research to help more actively involve patients and the public; and Louise Bowman’s talk which made me reflect where we should focus our monitoring activity.
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