On the 16th and 17th of September 2024, representatives from large platform trials in acute care, research teams associated with investigator-led clinical trials groups and networks globally, public patient representatives and funders met in Dublin, Ireland to discuss the principles, needs and future of platform trials and their operation, coordination, collaboration, governance and funding in acute care research.

In contrast to a conventional randomized clinical trial that evaluates a single treatment, a platform trial studies a population of patients with a disease using a common protocol and statistical model which enables the assessment of multiple therapies simultaneously and
sequentially, more accurately considered a platform upon which multiple individual trials can be run. Platform trials were first introduced in oncology, and the model proliferated in acute care during the COVID-19 pandemic providing the rapid assessment of interventions. As the sense of urgency wanes post COVID-19, the appeal of the platform trial endures – as a mechanism both to meet the research challenges of the next public health crisis and to integrate research into clinical practice to address the myriad questions inherent in providing clinical care. The model creates new opportunities, but also new challenges for trialists, research teams, patients and public, funders, and policy-makers. It is timely and appropriate to enumerate and address these, building on discussions started in Toronto, 2023 at the InFACT/ISARIC/Unity Health Colloquium on the Lessons of COVID-19 for Clinical Research.

Six working groups were created to facilitate this vision and mission with focussed outputs to guide existing and new platform trials and their collaboration including; Key Components and Taxonomy, Data and Outcomes, Governance, Patient Public partners, Knowledge users and Capacity-Building, Operationalisation, Design, Sustainability and Communications

We issue a call to action for trialists, research teams, networks and trial groups, patient and public representatives, clinicians, allied health, and funders to work together in a collaborative approach. By improving the efficiency and sustainability of platform trials, particularly in terms of funding, operationalisation, and translation of outcomes, we aim to revolutionise the way clinical trials are conducted. This unified and embedded learning healthcare approach will transform clinical care globally and ensure that research continually contributes to the betterment of patient outcomes in the face of future public health challenges.

The ICC-CTN also featured in 2024 on an article on advancing innovation for ICU lung failure patients requiring mechanical ventilation by enhancing biological insights, conducting adaptive trials and involving patients and the public.

This full-time post is advertised on a temporary basis but will very likely continue to be funded on a permanent basis after this year.

The post is open to either nursing graduates, HSCPs or science post-graduates.

Experience with clinical research is essential.

Please pass this information onto any colleagues who may be interested.

The ICC-CTN formed part of a global representation of respiratory research networks at the WHO Symposium in Toronto in October 2023.

The symposium addressed meeting global needs for oxygen and respiratory care. The preliminary results of the O2Cov2 study, on understanding oxygen use for patients with acute respiratory infection due to COVID-19 in LMICs, were presented and identified the need for optimising respiratory support for critically ill patients. The ICC-CTN and global respiratory research networks collaborated to formulate future directions and develop opportunities and insights for the WHO for global research in this area. 

We are delighted to announce the publication of these collaborative discussions.

The initiative reconvenes this May.

- 1 ECR (Clinical Research)

- 1 Nursing / Allied Health

- 1 Trials Methodology

Please see attached the guidance document and application forms. There is a single application for both Nurses/AHPs and Trials Methodology awards.

The call will close on the 23rd of April, when applications will undergo eligibility checks and will be reviewed by independent expert panelists.

The 3 awardees will present their work at the annual ICC-CTN meeting on the 11th of June 2024 in Belfast. Applicants must be available to present on this day.

If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.