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A new Clinical Trials Unit has opened within the Department of Psychiatry - the Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit - it is the only mental health-dedicated Clinical Trials Unit in the UK. It opened in September 2019 and has replaced the former Oxford Cognitive Health and Neuroscience Clinical Trials Unit.

The Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit (OBHCTU) aims to collaborate with academics and clinicians across the Department of Psychiatry and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in order to support high quality research. The unit is particularly keen to support translational research using innovative methods and offers advice and support in all aspects of the planning, conducting and reporting of clinical trials.

OBHCTU projects currently include both non-commercial efficacy trials designed to reduce the uncertainties associated with current treatments and early phase trials evaluating potential new treatments. The Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) is also working to increase research productivity and recruitment into trials.

We can provide advice in terms of developing research applications and trial design. We therefore would encourage all researchers to contact us early on in their design process to see if we can offer any personalised support. - Dr Vanessa Raymont, Director of Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit. 

The following services can be provided

  • Research study design and methodological advice
  • Trial management support and advice (including single centre, multicentre and global studies)
  • Quality assurance support and advice (including single centre, multicentre and global studies)
  • Statistical support and advice
  • Training and development for researchers, as well as, their teams (including bespoke courses)
  • Independent research/researcher support
  • Central reviewer services and vendor selection

 

There are a number of working groups and an oversight group, which help steer the CTU comprising of senior academics from the Department of Psychiatry.

Clinical trials are not the only type of studies support is provided for, contact Dr Vanessa Raymont vanessa.raymont@psych.ox.ac.uk for more information. The trial adoption process will be made available to all very soon.