Promoting Inclusivity in Clinical Trials: The STEP UP Initiative Clinical trials often unintentionally exclude under-served populations, leading to healthcare innovations that benefit
Welcome to the HRB Trials Methodology Research Network
The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) is a collaborative initiative between a number of Irish and international higher education institutes and methodology centers.
Trials Methodology Funding Success: University of Limerick Secures Funding to Develop Core Outcome Set for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Health Research Board –
Discover the Future of Clinical Trials: Your Invitation to Explore “A Sense of Elsewhere“ Discover our practical plan for enhancing patient
The world of Trials Methodology may seem complex and daunting, but thanks to the podcast hosted by Ella Howes (University of Leeds)
The HRB-TMRN is a proud Partner in the MRC-NIHR-Trials Methodology Research Partnership in the UK. This Partnership offers significant opportunity for trials
The increasing use of digital data in cancer research presents both opportunities and challenges, especially concerning data privacy. Cancer Trials Ireland has
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What is the HRB-TMRN?
The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) is a collaborative initiative between several Irish and international higher education institutes and methodology centres.
We want to strengthen the methodology and reporting of trials in health and social care in Ireland so that they become more relevant, accessible and influential for our community of patients and other service users, practitioners, policymakers and the public. This is achieved through a programme of work relating to the methodology of trials and focused on (i) support, (ii) training and education, (iii) research and innovation and (iv) Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement.
"If you do not intentionally, deliberately and proactively include, you will unintentionally exclude." – Joe Gerstandt.
This fabulous single sentence sums up why wider inclusion in trials means actively doing new and different things.
#Inclusion
How should trial teams make decisions about the proportions and diversity of the ethnic groups in their trial?
Our paper led by @shauntreweek @Bowercpcman et al
https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-024-08625-5
Our Expertise
Our Network is connected to over 70 national and international trials and trials methodology organisations. We are a partner within the MRC-NIHR-Trials Methodology Research Partnership in the UK. Our collaborations give us access to world leaders in trials methodology research.
Our trials methodology research expertise includes:
Studies within a Trial (SWAT)
A SWAT is an embedded methodology research study within a planned or ongoing trial. We have been involved in SWATS for over 10 years and were involved in the first registered SWAT and we provide annual competitive funding for SWATs. Our members are active in developing and implementing SWATs across a variety of clinical trials nationally and internationally.
Core Outcome Set Development
A core outcome set is agreed, standardised set of outcomes that should be measured and reported in all trials for a specific clinical area. We have been involved in developing core outcome sets across a range of clinical areas. We are proud to collaborate with the COMET Initiative in many of these.
Priority Setting
Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) enable clinicians, patients and carers to work together to identify and prioritise evidence uncertainties in particular areas of health and care that could be answered by research.We have led or contributed to research agenda setting across a range of trials methodology topics and also promoted the use of prioritisation setting across clinical trial areas nationally.
Qualitative Research in Trials Methodology
We have specialized expertise in qualitative research in our Qualitative Research in Trials Centre (@QUESTSCentre). Here a team of advisors with expertise in case study research, ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology and qualitative evidence synthesis are active in a wide range of trials methodology projects.
Latest Events
november 2024
december 2024
WHO Chief Scientist to hold information session on the new WHO clinical trial guidance; february 2025
april 2025
Our Ethos
Collaboration & innovation
We work collaboratively and innovatively. Our doors are always open to new ideas in Trials methodology.
Inclusion
Involvement of all key stakeholders including patients and the public is central to what we do. This helps us ensure our work will matter most and achieve impact.
Capacity
Capacity-building is central to all our work. This is essential to provide opportunity, invigorate perspective and build our research future.
Our Network operates across five University Partners,
each leading the way in trials methodology research and training
