Research, Innovation & Engagement Support

Explore searchable database of research methods training courses and events provided by National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM)

The Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit offers  this Qualitative Methods in Clinical Trials course. A three days course introduces the key considerations when using qualitative methods in clinical trials. 

4 -6th December 2024

The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network  provides interesting Webinars and Training Events

The list of upcoming events can be accessed here https://www.hrb-tmrn.ie/training-education/upcoming-events/

The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network offers free access to all of the recorded training material from HRB-TMRN events. All are freely available to view here: https://www.hrb-tmrn.ie/training-education/online-training-repository/

A new Trials Methodology Research Partnership webinar series can be accessed in this link 

MRC-NIHR TMRP Webinar series

• Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility offers a session An Introduction to Health Economics (£90) introducing key concepts of health economics and allocation of health resource in relation to clinical research

       12 March 2025

This one day Sample size calculations in randomised clinical trials: beyond the basics course for those working on trials and study designs, which includes trialists, trial statisticians, clinicians and other scientists who are familiar with the hypothesis testing framework (i.e., type I error rate, power, and various effect sizes). Familiarity with sample size calculation for simple/basic designs is desirable but not essential.

Date: TBC

• Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility offers educational events with focus on Patient and Public Involvement. Bitesize Introduction to Patient Public Involvement Course (free) is an online, self-directed course aiming to help researchers to begin their patient and public  involvement activities. 

• PPI in Clinical Trials - Design, Recruitment and Retention (£90) is a course focusing on how can involving patients in the design of research project improve the plans for the project and what does the evidence tell about the impact of involving patients and the public in clinical trials. Look for upcoming sessions here.

• Including Patient and Public Involvement in Funding Applications the course will explore how and where to include PPI in research grant applications.  26 Nov 2024

• University of Bristol offers this course Optimising Recruitment to Randomised Controlled Trials which aims to provide an introduction to the challenges of recruiting people to randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and strategies to address these. The course draws on evidence generated by the QuinteT research programme, which specialises in optimising recruitment to RCTs based on research conducted in over 70 trials to date. (£220)

        12 June 2025

• University of Bristol offers this course Designing and Conducting Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trials (£1100) that aims to provide an understanding of the essentials of designing, conducting and analysing pragmatic randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The course examines RCTs evaluating health and public health interventions in primary, secondary and community settings with individual and cluster randomised designs. Please note this course does not go into lots of detail about regulatory approvals and research governance.

        28 Apr - 02 May 2025

UCL's Centre for Applied Statistics Courses (CASC), part of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) delivers this half day online Statistical & practical aspects of the design/analysis of Multi-Arm Multi-Stage Platform Trials  course (£275) aimed at trial statisticians, regulators and clinicians who want to understand more about the design and analysis of multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) platform trials. 

20th November 2024 

• The Institute of Clinical Trials & Methodology (ICTM) at University College London (UCL) offers Conduct of Platform Trials a face-to-face course covering how to conduct a platform trial from set-up to reporting, particularly focussing on the aspects that are different or more difficult compared to a more typical two arm randomised controlled trial. 

        Please contact: ictm.cpd@ucl.ac.uk  for more information

        18th March 2025

• UCL's Centre for Applied Statistics Courses (CASC), part of the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH) delivers this Sample size Estimation and Power Calculations with Excel course (£175) likely to be useful to those embarking on a research project, or trying to complete ethics and grant application forms.

       Next training date 28 January 2025

 Explore the short courses in Research Skills and Statistics offered by the  University College London. 

• The King's College London offers An Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods course (£1000) that will give an overview and introduction to qualitative research methods, including individual interviews, focus group discussions, observation, ethical issues, content and thematic analysis, NVivo and rigour in qualitative research. Contact the team for more information.

       Date to be confirmed : opening soon

The Birmingham Centre for Clinical Trials (BCCT) brings together the clinical trial expertise from across the University of Birmingham and, in particular The Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU), and The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU). This face-to-face 3 day programme iwill be delivered in person in the Medical School at the University of Birmingham. £600.

25th – 27th November 2024

24th - 26th November 2025

The aim of this workshop is to equip clinical research staff with an understanding of the key elements involved in conducting an early phase clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product (CTIMP). The workshop will consist of a mixture of presentations, case studies and practical exercises.  It is relevant to those who those who would like to improve their understanding of early phase clinical trials.

 23 June 2025

• Glasgow Clinical Research Facility offers this half day workshop Principal Investigator Roles and Responsibilities to equip Principal Investigators and researchers with an understanding of the key roles and responsibilities involved in conducting a research trial. The workshop will consist of a mixture of presentations and discussions. It is relevant to those who are new to research and for those who would like to improve their understanding of the setup, coordination, and archiving of research trials. Booking is available here. 

        30/01/2025

        14/05/2025

• There are also available short sessions (£25) for Associate Principal Investigators that can be booked here. 

        Getting Started in a Research Trial                          

        Trial Design                                                              

        Investigational Medicinal Product                           

        Quality and Safety Reporting in Research Trials   

        Delivering a Research Trial

The VITAE website managed by the Careers Research & Advisory Centre (CRAC) provides resources for emerging researchers aspiring to develop their skills in research and develop as Principal Investigators.

GCP is the agreed international standard for conducting clinical research. Everyone who works on delivering clinical research in Glasgow is required to have an up-to-date GCP certificate. It is advised to renew GCP training every two to three years depending on local policies and sponsor requirements. There are number of options to complete the course.

• NIHR offers an online GCP course that can be completed at the “NIHR Introduction to Good Clinical Practice (GCP)” eLearning 

• Glasgow Clinical Research Facility offers free monthly full day sessions NRS Introduction to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for those who have not completed the training yet or completed training more than two years ago. There are also half day refresh sessions available. The training events can be booked here.   

        Upcoming dates: 

            10 Dec 2024,

            15 Jan 2025,

            06 Feb 2025,

• Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility offers Good Clinical Practice (GCP) course free-of-charge for those attending from Scottish NHS or academic institutions. You can search availability of on-site and online events and book the course here.

23 Jan 2025

13 Mar 2025

17 Apr 2025

• Glasgow Clinical Research Facility offers half-day Good Research Practice (Non-drug Trials) course (£49) appropriate for anyone conducting or supporting clinical research that does not involve a ‘drug’. 

      17 Dec 2024

      14 Mar 2025

       23 Jun 2025

• Glasgow Clinical Research Facility offers half-day workshop Informed Consent - Adult: Ethical, legal and practical aspects in clinical research (£60) with a focus on the legal and practical issues around obtaining informed consent from adults participating in clinical research, and vulnerable groups who require additional safeguards. It will also cover consent issues relating to the use of human tissue and data in research. Booking is available here.         

        11 Feb 2025

        14 May 2025

The Birmingham Centre for Clinical Trials (BCCT) brings together the clinical trial expertise from across the University of Birmingham and, in particular The Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU), and The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) in this online 2 day programme that will focus on the fundamentals of the project management of trials. Cost£250 per person. 

18 – 19 November 2024

24 - 25 March 2025

17-18 November 2025