Dr Katy Sutcliffe will deliver a webinar, titled “An introduction to Qualitative Evidence Synthesis and its utility for understanding, designing and evaluating trials”, on Friday 25th May 2018 from 12-1pm (GMT).

Webinar overview: Including diverse types of evidence in systematic reviews can increase their relevance for decision makers. Qualitative Evidence Syntheses (QES) bring together research that reports people’s views and experiences of, for example, a particular illness or healthcare approach. As well as being of value in themselves, QES can assist policy makers with interpretation and implementation of the findings of systematic reviews that evaluate intervention effectiveness. The session will begin with an overview of the underlying logic and methods of QES. It will then describe some examples of QES to exemplify how they can assist policy development. Finally, the session will describe a current QES being undertaken at NUI Galway on the factors that impact on recruitment to trials in healthcare.

Biography: Dr Katy Sutcliffe is based at the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordination Centre (EPPI-Centre), Institute of Education, University College London. She is the Deputy Director of the Department of Health Policy Reviews Facility which produces research syntheses to address Department of Health policy needs and is a collaboration with the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Katy specialises in developing systematic review methods for producing policy-relevant evidence, in particular qualitative and mixed-methods evidence syntheses and approaches for identifying the key ingredients and underlying mechanisms of interventions.

Register for this webinar via http://tinyurl.com/QUESTSWeb6

Details of past QUESTS webinars available at https://quests.ie/webinars/

29 May 2018 at 12:00

MRC Hubs for Trials Methodology Research – Trial Conduct Working Group webinar

Title: Audio-recording recruitment consultations – an exploratory study in two RCTs to investigate the impact on randomisation rates

Speaker: Prof Chris Rogers, University of Bristol

If you wish to attend this 30-40 minute lunchtime webinar you will first have to follow this link to pre-register: https://htmr-ctsu.webex.com/htmr-ctsu/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb97385b7e761f93fade9e33dc57946d4

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis. A recording of this webinar will be made available alongside previous webinars at

https://www.mrc-phru.ox.ac.uk/webinars/

http://www.methodologyhubs.mrc.ac.uk/resources/webinars/

Dr David Moher – Ottawa Hospital Research Institute – to Visit the School of Nursing and Midwifery, NUI Galway – 6^th June 2018

The Health Research Board – Trials Methodology Research Network, along with the School of Nursing and Midwifery NUI Galway, are delighted to welcome one of the “worlds most influential minds 2018*” Dr David Moher to NUI Galway on June 6^th 2018.

*(official ranking compiled by Clarivate Analytix, in both clinical medicine and social sciences)

Dr. David Moher, who grew up in Ireland, was recently ranked in the top 0.05 percent of all researchers in the world (~7.8 million full-time researchers). He has published nearly 500 research papers, which have been referenced more than 25,000 times by other scientists. Most importantly, his research has changed medical practice and improved health care around the world.

Further details on Dr David Moher achievements are available: http://www.ohri.ca/newsroom/newsstory.asp?ID=993

Dr Moher will deliver a Keynote address in Áras Moyola on Wednesday June 6^th at 1:30-2:30.

• The QUEST for better behavior in science –

All are welcome. Please contact hrb-tmrn@nuigalway.ie for further information.

A Practical Introduction to Running Randomised Clinical Trials

This 4 day course will improve your knowledge and skills in the design, practical conduct, management and analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Combining talks and workshop activities, you will be guided through the principles, methodology and practical implementation of RCTs.

Date: 12th – 15th June 2018
Venue: iPCHS, David Wetherall Building, Keele University, ST5 5BG
Cost: £600.00
Course Leaders: , Dr Ed Roddy, Dr Majid Artus and Dr Martyn Lewis, Dr Chris Littlewood and Professor Nadine Foster

REGISTER HERE: https://www.keele.ac.uk/rct/

Research Methods in Clinical Trials

Course Title 
Introduction To Clinical Research And Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Incorporating Integrated Addendum (E6R2)

Overview

This one day course is relevant to Principal Investigators, research nurses and associated research site personnel who have not undertaken GCP training within the previous 2 years. The following content is included:

• Introduction to Drug Development and Clinical Research
• Research Ethics and Clinical Research Governance
• Principles of Good Clinical Practice
• Investigator Responsibilities
• Regulatory Inspection

The course has Category 1 Approval from the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) – 6 CEUs. It also meets the minimum criteria for ICH GCP investigator site personnel training identified by TransCelerate Biopharma as necessary to enable mutual recognition of GCP training among trial sponsors

Dates & Venues

Monday 16th July 2018;

Tuesday 20th November 2018.

RCSI Education & Research Centre, Smurfit Building, Beaumont Hospital.
Additional dates can be facilitated at alternative locations for groups of 10 or more.

Cost:
€100.00 (Clinical/Academic rate) €200.00 (Industry rate)
Contact:
Deirdre Hyland:
(01) 809 3785 dhyland@rcsi.ie

Overview

A half day course relevant to Principal Investigators, Research Nurses and associated research site staff who have attended a full GCP training day within the last two years.  The following content is included:

• Clinical Research Governance (Revision & Updates)
• Principles of Good Clinical Practice
• Investigator Responsibilities
• Regulatory Inspections

The course has Category 1 Approval from the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). All attendees are eligible for 4 CEUs on completion.  It also meets the minimum criteria for ICH GCP investigator site personnel training identified by TransCelerate Biopharma as necessary to enable mutual recognition of GCP training among trial sponsors.

Dates & Venues

Tuesday 17^th July, 2018. RCSI Education & Research Centre, Smurfit Building, Beaumont Hospital.

Booking Information

€50.00 (Clinical/Academic rate)

€100.00 (Industry rate).

Contact: Deirdre Hyland: (01) 809 3785 dhyland@rcsi.ie

INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK META-ANALYSIS

DOWNLOAD THE SCHEDULE PDF

National University of Ireland, Galway | 16th – 17th August 2018 – COST: €150 / €50

Course tutors

Professor Nicky Welton is Professor in Statistical and Health Economic Modelling at the University of Bristol.

Dr Deborah Caldwell is Senior Lecturer in Public Health Research at the University of Bristol.

Ms. Edna Keeney is Senior Research Associate in Health Economics and Evidence Synthesis at the University of Bristol.

Course aims and objectives

By the end of the course participants should be able to:

• understand what indirect comparisons and network meta-analysis (NMA) are and why they are used;
• perform indirect comparisons using Stata;
• perform network meta-analysis using Stata, with continuous and dichotomous data;
• understand how NMA can be used to pool evidence on complex interventions, and the assumptions required to do so;
• understand the assumptions made in NMA and use Stata to examine consistency;
• be aware of different techniques to present the results from NMA;
• be able to critically appraise a paper that uses NMA.

Who the course is intended for

This course is designed for health services researchers, health psychologists, epidemiologists, statisticians, systematic reviewers and decision analysts.

Prerequisites – Experience of meta-analysis (ideally in Stata), and knowledge of statistical methods including logistic regression. An understanding of research design would also be helpful.

Course outline

• Meta-analysis in Stata (refresher).
• Introduction to indirect comparisons, and combining direct and indirect evidence.
• Performing indirect comparisons in Stata, including practical.
• Introduction to network meta-analysis.
• Performing NMA in Stata, including practical.
• Systematic review to inform NMA.
• Assumptions, ground rules and FAQs for network meta-analysis.
• NMA using other outcomes.
• Pooling evidence on complex interventions using NMA
• Assessing Inconsistency in NMA.
• Explaining and Presenting Results.
• Reporting and critical appraisal of NMA, including group work.

Location: CA112, Cairnes Building

The 2018 Cochrane Colloquium will be held in Edinburgh at the International Conference Centre in Scotland from 16-18 September 2018. It will be hosted by Cochrane UK.

Theme and content:

Cochrane for all – better evidence for better health decisions

This will be a Colloquium for everyone. It will welcome newcomers to Cochrane from all parts of the world and from all backgrounds. One of the key aims is to increase the involvement of patients, carers and family members (healthcare consumers) in our work. As such, the Colloquium 2018 will be a Patients Included event that is co-designed, co-produced and co-presented by healthcare consumers and where everyone’s input is valued equally.

The Colloquium 2018 will focus on key goals of Cochrane’s Strategy to 2020, looking through the eyes of healthcare consumers and in partnership with them:

• Producing evidence
• Making evidence accessible
• Advocating for evidence

For more information, please go to the Colloquium website: colloquium.cochrane.org

Winter school overview

The Health Behaviour Change Research Group (HBCRG), in collaboration with the HRB Trials Methodology Research Network, will host a two-day Winter School focusing specifically on issues relevant to conducting trials of behaviour change interventions.

This workshop will bring together leading national and international experts from the field of behaviour change and complex intervention research for two days of presentations, workshops and discussion on best research practice.

Who should attend?

The winter school is suitable for anyone interested in developing their knowledge of and skills in conducting trials of complex and behaviour change interventions.

***********************************

Timetable

DAY 1 (09/10/2018)

09.30    Registration and coffee

09.45    Welcome and open

Prof Molly Byrne, Health Behaviour Change Research Group, NUI Galway and Prof Declan Devane, HRB Trials Methodology Research Network

10.00    Introductory lecture: Overview of the complex interventions framework

Prof David Richards, Complex Interventions Research Group, University of Exeter Medical School, UK

10.30    Interactive lecture: Developing behaviour change interventions

Prof Molly Byrne and Dr Jenny McSharry, Health Behaviour Change Research Group, NUI Galway

11.30    Break and coffee

11.45    Interactive lecture: Pilot and feasibility of complex interventions

Prof David Richards, University of Exeter Medical School, UK       

13.00    Lunch

13.45    Interactive lecture: Optimisation of complex health interventions prior to a randomised controlled trial: a scoping review of strategies used

Ms Sara Levati, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland

14.45    Interactive lecture: Qualitative methods within trials of complex interventions

Dr Catherine Houghton, Qualitative Research in Trials Centre (QUESTS), NUI Galway

15.45    Break and coffee

16.00    Debate: Publishing protocols for trials of complex interventions

17.15    Finish   

19.30    WINTER SCHOOL NETWORKING DINNER (included in registration fee)

  ***********************************

DAY 2 (10/10/2018)

9.00       Workshop: Fidelity and process evaluation of complex interventions

Prof Wendy Hardeman, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK and Dr Elaine Toomey, Health Behaviour Change Research Group, NUI Galway              

10.30    Break and coffee

10.45    Workshop: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) within complex and behaviour change interventions

Ms Edel Murphy, Dr Deirdre Walsh and Dr Oonagh Meade, NUI Galway

12.00    Workshop: Novel evidence synthesis methods for complex interventions: Network meta-analysis

Dr Gerry Molloy and Dr Chris Noone, NUI Galway            

13.00    Lunch

13.45    Interactive lecture: Reporting guidelines for complex interventions

Prof Paul Montgomery, University of Birmingham, UK     

14.45    Presentation followed by panel discussion: Priorities in behavioural trials research

Presentation and chaired discussion by Prof Molly Byrne; Panel members: all workshop presenters

16.15    Closing remarks and workshop evaluation

16.30    Finish

***********************************

Overview

A one day course aimed at investigators, project managers, research nurses and other research team members involved in the conduct of medical device research at a clinical research site.  It is also relevant to sponsors and device manufacturers involved in conducting clinical investigations.  This course includes the following content:

• Principles of Good Clinical Practice
• Medical Devices (What is a Medical Device?; Types & Classification; Medical Device Legislation; Clinical Investigations)
• Good Clinical Practice in Device Trials (Ethical Issues; Conduct of a Clinical Investigation; Safety Reporting in Device Research)
• Monitoring & Audit

Dates & Venues

Tuesday 11^th September, 2018;

RCSI Education & Research Centre, Smurfit Building, Beaumont Hospital

Booking Information

Cost: €100.00 (Clinical/Academic rate)  €200.00 (Industry rate)

Contact: Deirdre Hyland:                   (01) 809 3785 dhyland@rcsi.ie

Research Methods in Clinical Trials

Course Title 
Introduction To Clinical Research And Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Incorporating Integrated Addendum (E6R2)

Overview

This one day course is relevant to Principal Investigators, research nurses and associated research site personnel who have not undertaken GCP training within the previous 2 years. The following content is included:

• Introduction to Drug Development and Clinical Research
• Research Ethics and Clinical Research Governance
• Principles of Good Clinical Practice
• Investigator Responsibilities
• Regulatory Inspection

The course has Category 1 Approval from the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) – 6 CEUs. It also meets the minimum criteria for ICH GCP investigator site personnel training identified by TransCelerate Biopharma as necessary to enable mutual recognition of GCP training among trial sponsors

Dates & Venues

Tuesday 20th November 2018.

RCSI Education & Research Centre, Smurfit Building, Beaumont Hospital.
Additional dates can be facilitated at alternative locations for groups of 10 or more.

Cost:
€100.00 (Clinical/Academic rate) €200.00 (Industry rate)
Contact:
Deirdre Hyland:
(01) 809 3785 dhyland@rcsi.ie