MRC-NIHR TMRP Greener Trials Working Group Remit
Co-leads: Lisa Fox (Institute of Cancer Research) and further leads to be identified through Expression of Interest.
Objectives
The MRC-NIHR TMRP Greener Trials Working Group is a sub-group of the MRC-NIHR TMRP Trial Conduct Working Group. The overall aim of the Greener Trials Working Group is to facilitate networking and collaborative research in the area of environmentally sustainable clinical trials.
The working group aims to facilitate the consideration and uptake of more responsible research practise in clinical trials by providing a forum for the discussion of
Responsible research practises are considered any activity which may reduce the emissions, waste or water use of a clinical trial and as such the remit of this group can be applied to all MRC-NIHR TMRP Working Groups.
Potential research areas to target:
Operational opportunities for greener clinical trials - Further development, improvement and testing of the method to quantify the carbon footprint of clinical trials to inform future lower carbon clinical trial design. Development of guidance for trialists in greener trial management.
Disseminate and promote greener research practice in clinical trials - Promotion of guidance and training of CTUs to use the method at the design stage of trials via the development of webinars or workshops.
Identification of challenges and barriers to the adoption of greener research practice -Research to investigate behaviours. A forum for sharing of operational issues with greener research practise to share and facilitate solutions.
Development of a research agenda for assessing the potential relationship between lower carbon trial designs and trial efficiency and how to further develop this field of research - Discussion of ideas during the meetings and sharing of information between members. Development of collaborative projects and grant applications.
Patient and public involvement and engagement activities to investigate patients’ views on carbon trade off decisions to inform the transition into routine practice - Facilitate the conversation ofpatient views on the changes to trial conduct and participation made as a result of greener research practise to understand the impact it could have on patients.
Membership
The Trial Conduct Working Group will have a tiered approach to membership (with both full and associate members) allowing members to interact with the WG in ways appropriate for their interest. For example, full members will be actively involved in WG activities through the key areas or the core strategic group (made up of co-leads, target research area leads and PPI). Associate members may prefer to receive email updates and be invited to annual summary meetings.
The group should consider members that are included in (but not limited to) the groups outlined below:
Collaborations
Collaborations for the Greener Trials Working Group will be explored at several levels: Within the immediate working group to explore opportunities to maximise collaborative activities within the new Greener Trials Group; Internally within the partnership – identify overlap with other working groups and reflect on opportunities for more responsible research (e.g. de-centralised and digital trial design adaptations); Externally – proactively engage with others out with the Partnership (both nationally and internationally) through activities such as webinars to scope potential for collaborative working. This will go beyond academic institutions and include opportunities with industry and regulatory bodies (e.g. MHRA, HRA), and others.