The MRC Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) is a centre of excellence for clinical trials, meta-analyses and epidemiological studies.

We are committed to strengthening and expanding the evidence base for healthcare nationally and internationally.

The CTU also develops methodology to improve the design, conduct and analysis of clinical studies, and hosts one of the MRC’s eight regional Hubs for Trials Methodology Research.

The MRC CTU is a UKCRC registered trials unit.

Latest News

Innovative new MAMS-TB trial opens

An innovative new trial aiming to identify new combinations of drugs that could cure tuberculosis (TB) more quickly has just started recruiting patients. The MAMS-TB trial is being carried out by the PanACEA (Pan African Consortium for the Evaluation of Anti-tuberculosis agents) consortium, and will take place in Tanzania and South Africa.

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PATCH 1 trial shows that penicillin prophylaxis can prevent cellulitis of the leg recurring

In the largest randomised trial of its kind, results from the PATCH I trial show that taking low dose penicillin twice a day for a year can reduce the number of repeat episodes of leg cellulitis. However this protection is lost once the antibiotics are stopped so longer-term antibiotics may be required. These results were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Assessing risk of bias from published Randomised Controlled Trials: how reliable is it?

A new paper on risk of bias assessments from the Meta-analysis Group at CTU has been published in the BMJ. The paper evaluates the reliability of risk of bias assessments for randomised trials in cancer. The paper describes how, compared with information obtained during the process of individual patient data meta-analyses, assessments obtained from publications only can be misleading.

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Features

ARROW trial shows removing routine lab testing is safe & could increase access to HIV treatments for children in Africa

Results from a five year randomised control trial in Africa have shown that children on HIV treatment can be safely monitored without the need for expensive routine laboratory tests. These findings, which are published today in The Lancet, mean treatment can be given much more cheaply, which may help more children get access to life-saving treatment.