Clinical Trials

About

Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of clinical research studies, with emphasis on clinical trials rather than observational studies. Students will be guided through the design, conduct, and analysis and reporting of clinical trials and the common sub-studies often added to them (e.g. health economics). Students will be introduced to systematic reviews and meta-analyses and the important role they play in answering important clinical research questions. A session of the course will be dedicated to the role patients and consumers can play in clinical trial design, conduct and reporting.

Course leader

Dr Angela Meade

Target group

This is a level two module (equivalent to second year undergraduate). In addition to the standard UCL Summer School entry criteria, applicants will be expected to have successfully completed a first year level undergraduate module in any of the following subject areas: life sciences, psychology, mathematics, pharmacy, nursing, or medicine.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will:

recognise and choose the appropriate clinical study design in different circumstances.
explain different outcome measures in clinical trials and the principles of randomisation and blinding.
explore the ethical and regulatory issues relative to clinical trials and to gain insight into the clinical trialists responsibility to ensure patient safety.
describe the key information that should be included in a clinical trial protocol.
more outcomes can be found on the syllabus document above.

Fee info