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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.
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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.

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New paper: "Categorisation of continuous covariates for stratified randomisation: How should we adjust?"

Lead by Tom Sullivan

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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

march 2024

28mar11:00 am12:00 pmPractical Guidance on EU CRT and CTIs: Session 3 (Online)

april 2024

11apr1:00 pm2:00 pmWebinar: Dr Adwoa Parker – Studies Within A Trial to test recruitment and retention strategies: lessons learnt from PROMETHEUS

17apr11:00 am12:00 pmWebinar (TMRP): Rosalie Hayes & Nishat Halim – The ILANA Study: Using Study Recruitment Targets to promote Equity in Clinical Care

24apr10:00 am4:00 pmStatistical Power and Sample Size in Clinical Trials (In-person)

may 2024

02may1:00 pm5:00 pmDeliberating Ethics in Trials: Scope and necessity of ethical oversight (Online)

07mayAll Day09The multiphase optimisation strategy (MOST) framework and optimisation trials (In-person)

09may9:00 am4:00 pmHRB NCTO – International Clinical Trial Day Conference (In-person)

09may1:00 pm2:00 pmWebinar: Dr Danielle Bitterman & Dr Subha Perni – The role of AI in clinical trials

24may10:00 am4:00 pmRapid Research Methods Applicable in Clinical Trials (In-person)

june 2024

05jun10:00 am5:00 pmMethods of Analysis for Different Estimands (In-person)

06jun10:00 am4:00 pmTrial Steering Committee Training Workshop (Online)

july 2024

03jul1:00 pm2:00 pmWebinar (TMRP): Dr Kerry Dwan & Prof. Carrol Gamble – Outcome Reporting Bias and Statistical Analysis Plans in Clinical Trials

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