CTTI Welcomes Newest Member Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America

CTTI would like to welcome our newest member, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

CCFA is an organization focused on research, advocacy, and patient support for those suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. CCFA’s Senior Director of Patient Services, James Testaverde, will represent this organization on CTTI’s Steering Committee.

We are pleased to have this new voice involved with CTTI’s work. CTTI actively engages all stakeholders equally to collaboratively improve the quality and efficiency of the clinical trials enterprise. For more information about the diverse representation of CTTI’s membership, click here.

Updated AACT Database Now Available on the CTTI Website

CTTI’s State of Clinical Trials Project set out to facilitate the analyses of data in ClinicalTrials.gov, by creating the database for Aggregate Analysis of ClincalTrials.gov (AACT), a restructured and reformatted relational database developed using publicly available and downloadable data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Since the original AACT was created in 2010, we’ve continued to regularly issue updated versions of the database.

The latest version of the AACT Database is now available on the CTTI website, along with the supporting documents. This dataset reflects data downloaded from ClinicalTrials.gov in September 2015. To assist users with the interpretation of the data, a comprehensive data dictionary and points to consider document are also available on the CTTI website. Previous versions of AACT are posted as well.

Since CTTI released the first AACT database five years ago, it has been utilized to answer many questions regarding the landscape of clinical trials.

CTTI’s Recommendations on Informed Consent to be Featured in Upcoming NIH Collaboratory Grand Rounds

NEW recommendations on Informed Consent

On Friday, January 8, Jennifer Lentz of Eli Lilly and patient advocate Jane Perlmutter will present CTTI’s actionable, evidence-based recommendations on informed consent at the NIH Collaboratory Grand Rounds webinar.

The proposed new model for the informed consent process places the focus back where it should be: the participant. Furthermore, the consent process should be an interactive, ongoing conversation between the participant and the research investigator or staff. We encourage anyone interested in improving clinical trial quality and efficiency to attend.

Webinar Topic: The Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative’s Informed Consent Project: Recommendations and Resources

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Lentz, Global Informed Consent Process Owner, Global Clinical Operations, Eli Lilly and Company
  • Jane Perlmutter, PhD, Patient Advocate

Date & Time: Friday, January 8, 2016 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST

Meeting InfoCLICK HERE to view webinar login details

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

In the past year, CTTI has made great strides in identifying and promoting practices to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical trials. As a result, 6 sets of recommendations were released in 2015 on the following topics:

  1. Increase understanding of research participants
  2. Involve patient groups as equal partners in clinical trials
  3. Create better protocols
  4. Facilitate the use of a single IRB of record
  5. Reduce inefficiencies of investigator training
  6. Develop a better safety reporting system

This could not have been done without the enthusiasm, support and engagement of CTTI members and others pursuing transformation in the clinical trials enterprise. We would like to express our gratitude for the effort that went into these recommendations and invite you to share these gifts with your colleagues. Together, we can achieve innovation through collaboration.

CTTI Provides Necessary Tools to Implement FDA Vision of Patient Engagement

As documented in a recent JAMA viewpoint article, the US FDA is making moves to integrate patient perspectives throughout the continuum of medical product development. While the FDA and other key stakeholders have declared a commitment to create a more effective model for engagement between research sponsors, investigators, and patient groups, no evidence-based guidelines for best practices have existed, until now.

On October 7, CTTI released recommendations that identify evidence-based best practices for engaging with patient groups, as well as provide case examples and tools. These recommendations are the result of CTTI’s Patient Groups & Clinical Trials Project.

How and when should patient groups be engaged in the research and development continuum? How do patient groups and sponsors of research best assess each other’s interests, expertise and assets to increase the chances of successful clinical trials and therapy development? We are proud to offer actionable solutions to these questions around patient engagement and encourage you to share them with colleagues involved in the clinical trials enterprise.

“The FDA is committed to integrating patient perspectives into its regulatory evaluations and decision making and also encourages medical product innovators and clinical researchers to collect information on patient perspectives to inform development programs.” (Source: JAMA)

CTTI’s Recommendations on Patient Engagement to be Featured in Friday’s NIH Collaboratory Grand Rounds

New Recs on Patient Engagement

On Friday, December 11, members from the Patient Groups & Clinical Trials Project will present CTTI’s actionable, evidence-based recommendations on effective engagement with patient groups at the NIH Collaboratory Grand Rounds webinar. We encourage anyone interested in promoting the patient voice in clinical research to attend.

Webinar Topic: CTTI’s Recommendations on Best Practices for Effective Engagement with Patient Groups Around Clinical Trials

Speakers:

  • Wendy Selig, Founder and CEO, WSCollaborative
  • Scott Weir, PharmD, PhD, Director, University of Kansas Medical Center

Date: Friday, December 11, 2015, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Meeting InfoCLICK HERE to view webinar login details.

Recording Now Available: Webinar Unveiling of CTTI’s Informed Consent Project Recommendations

On November 19, 2015, CTTI hosted a webinar to present a new model of the informed consent process that places the focus back where it should be: the participant. This webinar was the official unveiling of CTTI’s recommendations resulting from the Informed Consent Project. We are pleased to now share the recording of this webinar:

We encourage you to share this recording with your colleagues in the clinical trials enterprise.

To view recordings of other CTTI webinars, CLICK HERE.

CTTI Welcomes New Members Alexion & PhRMA

CTTI would like to welcome our newest members, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering therapies for patients with rare diseases. Alexion’s Vice President of Research and Development Quality, Coleen Glessner, will represent this organization on CTTI’s Steering Committee.

PhRMA is a non-profit membership association that represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies. PhRMA’s Senior Director of Science and Regulatory Advocacy, Jocelyn Ulrich, will represent this organization on CTTI’s Steering Committee.

We are pleased to have these two new voices involved with CTTI’s work. CTTI actively engages all stakeholders equally to collaboratively improve the quality and efficiency of the clinical trials enterprise. For more information about the diverse representation of CTTI’s membership, click here.

Focus on the Process: CTTI Recommendations for Improved Informed Consent

NEW recommendations on Informed Consent

CTTI recommends a new model for the informed consent process that places the focus back where it should be: on the participant. The consent process should be an interactive, ongoing conversation between the participant and the research investigator or staff. “Patients who really understand what they are agreeing to when they sign an informed consent document are much more likely to adhere to trial requirements and be retained for the entire timeframe of the trial,” notes patient advocate, Jane Perlmutter. “Thus, not only is excellent consenting better for patients, it will also lead to more efficient and less costly trials.”

At a CTTI-hosted webinar on November 19, 2015, sponsors will hear suggestions and learn about tools to help them restructure the informed consent process and document to be more participant-friendly while retaining key information. The webinar will also explore the benefits of e-consent and how appropriate and thorough research staff training can improve the overall process for everyone involved.

The need for this new direction is recognized. “The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) supports the recommendations put forth by our partners in the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative,” says Jim Kremidas, ACRP Executive Director. “We are confident these recommendations will result in a more efficient and higher quality informed consent process conducted by clinical research professionals. A clear understanding of the risks and expectations clinical trial participants face will enhance their experience and drive better quality research.”

You’re Invited! CTTI Recommendations for an Improved Informed Consent Process to be Unveiled in November 19 Webinar

Join CTTI on November 19, 2015, as they host a webinar to present a new model of the informed consent process that places the focus back where it should be: the participant. This webinar will be the official unveiling of CTTI’s recommendations resulting from the Informed Consent Project and it is open to the public. We encourage you to share this invitation with your colleagues in the clinical trials enterprise.

Webinar Title: Public Unveiling of CTTI’s Informed Consent Project Recommendations

Date & Time: Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST

Speakers:

  • Jennifer Lentz, Global Informed Consent Process Owner, US CMS Coordinator, Global Clinical Operations, Eli Lilly and Company
  • Michele Kennett, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, Director of Human Research Protections, Director of MU Institutional Review Board, University of Missouri

Webinar Login:

  • CLICK HERE to enter meeting.
  • Meeting Number: 732 884 847
  • Meeting Password: ctti
  • After you connect to the website, please follow step-by-step instructions for connecting to the audio.
  • If you prefer to connect to audio only, you can join by phone at:
    • 1-855-244-8681 Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada)
    • 1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)