The personal Clinical Trials Journey of local patient, Alister, helped us explain to the public the importance of clinical trials and why we are passionate about involving patients in our research.
This year our Clinical Trials Unit (CHaRT) and HSRU celebrated all week at a stall at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary alongside colleagues from NHS Grampian Research Awareness team. Our teams spoke to patients, visitors and staff about the importance of clinical trials, the research we do to improve healthcare, and the training we offer to researchers such as the Real World Trials Online Course.
The information included Alister’s personal research story – how, having taken part in one of our clinical trials TWICS for patients with a lung condition called COPD, he is now part of the team overseeing a new clinical trial called BICS – also researching COPD. Alongside representatives from Heart and Chest Scotland, he gives a patient perspective of COPD and of taking part in research.
So why do we celebrate International Clinical Trials Day? The 20th May is International Clinical Trials Day. The day celebrates the anniversary of the first clinical trial by James Lind in 1747 into the causes of scurvy on board the HMS Salisbury. His trial consisted of just 12 men, grouped into pairs and given a variety of dietary supplements from cider to oranges and lemons. The trial only lasted six days but, within that time, there was a noticeable improvement in the group eating the fruit, providing Lind with the evidence required of the link between citrus fruits and scurvy.
Every year, across the world, the week of 20th May is used to celebrate the importance of Clinical Trials for improving healthcare.
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You can find out more about being involved in research here. If you are wanting to learn more about designing real world clinical trials then check out our course page.