In July 2005 the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, a group representing 11 prestigious medical journals announced a policy whereby a scientific paper on clinical trials result cannot be published unless the trial is recorded in a publicly-accessible registry at its outset.
In May 2006 the World Health Organisation urged institutions and companies to register all medical studies that test treatments on humans including the earliest studies, whether they involve patients or healthy volunteers.
“Registration of all clinical trials and full disclosure of key information at the time of registration are fundamental to ensuring transparency in medical research and fulfilling ethical responsibilities to patients and study participants”
Dr Timothy Evans, Assistant Director-General of WHO
As a result of this the WHO has recently launched an International Clinical trials registry platform search portal whereby visitors to the site can search various databases at a worldwide level.
So far, the main databases that the WHO draw upon are:
- Australian Clinical Trials Registry
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- ISRCTN
However, the WHO make it clear that this is not a clinical trials register.
You can locate examples and description of clinical trials registers at: www.controlled-trials.com
What is ISRCTN?
The International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register (most other registers also have an ISRCTN) is a simple numeric system for the unique identification of clinical trials worldwide.
The ISRCTN register will accept the registration of other forms of studies as well as randomised controlled trials as long as they are designed to assess the efficacy of health-care interventions. The ISTRN is a not-for-profit organisation and complies with requirements set out by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and also the WHO's new registration database.
Medical Research Council
The MRC is a publicly funded organisation "dedicated to improving human health." It aims to support research across the entire spectrum of medical sciences in universities and hospitals, in their own units and institutes in the UK and in their own units in Africa
Their mission is to improve human health through credible medical research. The MRC supports research in all major disease areas and works closely with NHS and the Department of Health. It gives high priority to research that is likely to make a difference to clinical practice and the health of the population.
EuroStemCell Group
EuroStemCell, launched in March 2010, unites more than 90 European stem cell and regenerative medicine research labs in a coordinated effort to engage with the public about our science.
They are a partnership of scientists, clinicians, ethicists, social scientists and science communicators, who also work closely with teachers and patient representatives.
They believe in making research on stem cells and regenerative medicine accessible to all and welcome your comments, ideas and contributions. EuroStemCell have a wide range of resources and information for patients, researchers and educators about the potential applications of stem cells to particular diseases.
EuroStemCell is collecting information about developments in clinical
trials using stem cells. To find out more click here...
The Wellcome Trust
The Trust's mission is to "foster and promote research with aim of improving human and animal health." As well as tackling immediate priorities, their independence and long term perspective enable them to support research that will benefit future generations.