Research in progress
This section gives information about research which is currently being undertaken. The most prominent feature of the section is the listing of academic institutions' within the UK that offer a health-related course, and their current research priorities.
Academic departments
Every 2 years, we write to the academic community in the UK and invite them to update details of their departmental research interests, PhD supervision, and postgraduate research training opportunities. The following is a fully searchable database of those that responded to this latest invitation.
Website: Academic Departments and their research interests
James Lind Alliance
The James Lind Alliance (JLA) is a non-profit making initiative which was established in 2004. It brings patients, carers and clinicians together to identify and prioritise uncertainties, or 'unanswered questions', about the effects of treatments that they agree are most important. This information will help ensure that those who fund health research are aware of what matters to both patients and clinicians. The JLA is part of the James Lind Initiative and is principally funded by the National Institute for Health Research.
Website: James Lind Alliance
NIHR CRN CC Portfolio Database
The NIHR CRN Portfolio is a database of clinical research studies that are supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network in England. Details of clinical research studies which meet specific eligibility criteria are recorded in a database known as the UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio, which comprises the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Portfolio in England and the corresponding Portfolios of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Website: http://www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/about_us/processes/portfolio/index
ACTNoW - the online database of NHS research expertise
Are you active in clinical research of medicinal products or medical devices (or interested in becoming active in this type of research in the future)? If so, register for free with ACTNoW to promote your skills and expertise to people looking to set up trials. ACTNoW is currently active in the North of England. If you work in the North, your registration can be processed straight away. Users searching for researchers in your specialist area will then be able to see your research expertise. A planned national roll out is due to begin soon, so, even if you are outside the North of England, you can still register. Your record will become active as soon as a central R&D contact for your trust is agreed. To fill in a registration form go to http://www.actnow-database.co.uk/registration.php. If you would like any further information, or if your R&D manager would like information about becoming or assigning your trust's single point of contact, please contact enquiries@actnow-database.co.uk.
Website: http://www.actnow-database.co.uk
Current controlled trials
Hosts 2 international databases of completed and ongoing trials: the ISRCTN register (http://www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn/) lists trials uniquely identified by an ISRCTN number, in line with international ICMJE/WHO trial registration guidelines; the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (http://www.controlled-trials.com/mrct/) allows users to search across registers from the Department of Health in England and Wales, the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the American ClinicalTrials.gov and others. Access to both databases is free.
Website: http://controlled-trials.com/