Non-commercial randomised clinical trials need money for meetings and travel expenses

Editor—Chalmers et al highlight from their survey of non-commercial randomised trials the challenges faced by researchers seeking funding for trials addressing issues that are not of interest to industry.¹

For any large multicentre clinical trial to reach its target accrual, the clinical research community must be committed to the trial at the earliest stages of its development. Current financing of peer reviewed trials by the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council begins only once a full proposal is approved. However, costs are incurred in the process of developing a full proposal, particularly by national meetings to discuss and develop the detailed protocol and the administrative support for revisions of the text.

Although much of the communication between clinicians can be done by email, meetings of clinicians face to face are needed to debate the research question and practicalities for a clinical trial. In a trial supported by industry these meeting expenses are usually reimbursed. This is not the case for non-commercial trials, in which study leave budgets for cancer professionals are often inadequate and discourage wide participation.

A more level playing field is needed. A way forward may be the creation of NHS research and development and Medical Research Council budgets (perhaps £1000-£2000) for meeting and travel expenses for shortlisted proposals to facilitate the development of full proposals. This might encourage and accelerate the conduct of non-commercial trials of interest to clinicians and patients.