Establishment of the first network of centres conducting clinical research in Poland
The Medical Research Agency allocated PLN 100 million to create a network of ten specialised Clinical Research Support Centres. The newly established Centres will allow for better coordination of clinical trials in Poland
The initiative to create Clinical Research Support Centres is aimed at making the clinical trials market in Poland more attractive, which will contribute to increasing the chance of patients to access modern, innovative therapies, more frequent choice of research centres in our country by sponsors, as well as an increase in the number of trials conducted.
100 million to create the network
As part of the competition for the creation and development of Clinical Research Support Centres, the Medical Research Agency received 30 applications for a total of over PLN 300 million. Among the beneficiaries selected in the competition, there were ten entities:
- Medical University of Lodz,
- Poznann University of Medical Sciences,
- Military Institute of Medicine,
- The Children’s Memorial Health Institute,
- The Institute of Cardiology,
- Medical University of Bialystok,
- Medical University of Gdansk
- Wroclaw Medical University
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie - National Research Institute of Oncology - Gliwice branch
- National Institute of Geriatry, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation named prof. dr hab. med. Eleonora Reicher.
The selected units have an excellent staff of professors, have a huge volume of patients and often treat extremely difficult cases. I am convinced that these centres will give comfort to patients on the one hand, and on the other hand will allow to develop a very high standard of research - emphasizes the President of the Medical Research Agency Radosław Sierpiński MD, PhD.
Comprehensive support for Polish centres conducting clinical trials
The establishments which receive grants will establish the Central Research Support Centres as a shared service centre, providing comprehensive and systemic support for the implementation of both commercial and non-commercial research. This support will concern, among others, planning, management, accounting, or coordinating research. The infrastructure of the Central Research Support Centres will include, first of all, a part allowing for the execution of outpatient visits, a relaxation zone for the patient, a conference room and work rooms for the Sponsor's representatives.
Uniformity, standardisation, networking
The aim of the network is to ensure a uniform standard of research implementation, high quality of patient service and to increase the number of commercial and non-commercial clinical trials. The establishment of the network will allow the creation of standardised centres, which will not be inferior to similar structures in Western Europe. They will become flagship health care institutions conducting research of the highest standard, with concern for the safety of research participants. Clinical trials in Poland will thus be conducted in a hospital and patient-friendly manner. The first investments in the facilities that received the MRA grant are planned for this year.