The Oxford Brain Health Clinical Trials Unit (OBHCTU) is a new unit established to support the delivery of trials in psychiatry and cognitive sciences and is the UK’s only dedicated mental health CTU. It is a core part of the Oxford Health BRC.
At the unit’s first open day speakers including Dr Vanessa Raymont, the CTU’s director, and Professor John Geddes, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, introduced the new CTU to research staff from the BRC and University. Presentations covered topics such as the importance of having a specialist CTU, the structure and operating procedures of the unit, and how the unit can help in terms of study and portfolio management. They also shared details of the first studies to be adopted by the CTU – PAX D and PETRUSHKA.
The new CTU combines clinical and scientific expertise with robust operating procedures. It will work to support and collaborate with researchers and to facilitate the smooth running of clinical trials, bringing particular expertise to the challenges and complexities mental health studies.
To coincide with their open day the OBHCTU have published the first edition of their knowledge and innovation bulletin which you can read here.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more email the OBHCTU at qa.brainhealth@psych.ox.ac.uk or follow the unit on twitter.