The Principal Investigator Training Programme (PITP), sponsored by the ICC-CTN and recognised by the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine of Ireland (JFICMI), is a formalised system for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) to train in the delivery of large clinical trials.

The PITP is a six-month training opportunity that provides practical research experience for NCHDs interested in starting a research career and can be undertaken in parallel with clinical training without significant additional commitment. During the six months, the candidate selects a multicentre clinical trial of interest and is linked with the principal investigator for that trial at their hospital. The candidate becomes an essential member of the clinical research team for that trial and completes a logbook of learning activities that are verified by the principal investigator. On successful completion, a certificate is issued that formally recognises the candidate’s contribution, and the ICC-CTN will recommend to the trial leadership that the candidate is acknowledged in any publications resulting from their work. The candidate will also gain access to a wide variety of educational materials and an online lecture series delivered by the PITP.

The certification process is primarily delivered through the online logbook (link).