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We apologise for the delay in publishing this issue, which was unfortunately delayed due to logistical difficulties in the ICR office.
In this issue, we report from a selection of sessions at the ICR Annual Conference, which was held in London in April 2010.
In the closing plenary session, Prof. Richard Lilford and Prof. Karl Claxton discuss the
principles, methods and application of economic analysis in informing health care decisions.
In the Day 1 parallel sessions, Natacha DesChamps-Smith and Simon Estcourt explore
patients' access to medicines, a panel of experts debate the level of
capability, involvement and responsibility of research nurses for informed consent in CTIMP studies, and we present a brief report from the session (that was cancelled due to volcanic ash disrupting air travel) on the
impact of the European paediatric regulations on the conduct of studies in children.
From the Day 2 parallel sessions, we present a
review of the Orphan Medicinal Product designation, and an overview of the
work of the NIHR Clinical Research Network in supporting industry to deliver clinical research within the NHS, and a session geared specifically to students called
"So You Want to Start a Career in Clinical Research?"
In this issue, Tanya Palmer and Jan Robinson report from an ICR Project Management forum on the
different technologies available to underpin clinical project management, asking how we decide what is appropriate for a given study.
Also in this issue, Joanna Nelley gives you a sneak preview of a
“Great Debate” planned by the ICR Resourcing Special Interest Group
for the Autumn, with senior panellists from industry and the NHS
discussing the future position of the UK in the global clinical trials
marketplace.
I also
review the autobiography of Michael Baum, a renowned oncologist and surgeon who has been close to many of the ground-breaking developments in the treatment of breast cancer over the past 40 years.
About CRfocus
Clinical Research focus (CRfocus) is ICR's peer-reviewed journal, published every month. CRfocus publishes authoritative articles to keep readers up to date with best practice, and develop their careers. Members of ICR receive CRfocus free of charge; non-members can subscribe for £135 per year