University of Hertfordshire launches Clinical Trials Unit to support vital health research

The University of Hertfordshire has officially launched a new Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), a dedicated centre that will help transform innovative health and social care research ideas into evidence-based improvements in practice and patient outcomes.

The CTU, first proposed more than 20 years ago, has evolved from a small network of researchers developing expertise in trial governance, regulation and delivery, into a nationally recognised unit capable of delivering large-scale impact studies addressing some of society’s most pressing health challenges.

Research programmes supported by the unit range from the international BootstRaP project looking at problematic internet use among teenagers, to surgical trials to improve pain management and recovery during and after robotic prostate surgery, to the annual collection and analysis of feedback from kidney patients.

CTU Director and Professor of Applied Health Sciences at the University, Professor David Wellsted, said:

“At its best, academia, the NHS, public health and social care produce their most impactful work when people come together across professional boundaries, working as networks of trusted colleagues, supporting each other to truly innovate and produce novel ideas and ways of working.

“We have been privileged to be part of the push to bring academic expertise into this way to working.”

Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Callaghan, said the CTU’s work demonstrated to the sector that the University was a leading institution for applied health and clinical research, improving health outcomes, shaping policy and practice, and attracting significant research investment.

Professor Callaghan added:

“The launch of the CTU provides a platform for the next phase of growth, positioning the UH to lead larger national and international trials while delivering tangible benefits to patients, services, and communities.”

The CTU provides support for health and social care research projects “from grant development through to dissemination”, including research design, operational delivery, analysis, and reporting.

For more information, go to University of Hertfordshire Clinical Trials Unit | Research | Uni of Herts