ISCR lauds clinical research stakeholders on International Clinical Trials Day 

On International Clinical Trials Day which falls on May 20^th, the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) acknowledged the immense contribution of all clinical research stakeholders who came together to research and develop expedited treatment for COVID-19.

Dr Sanish Davis, President, ISCR said, “On International Clinical Trials Day, we would like to pay tribute to the entire clinical research fraternity, particularly the Heroes of Medical Research – the patients, for their immense contribution to the development of better and more effective treatment for existing and unmet medical needs. During the last year in particular, we have witnessed how academia, industry, governments, regulators, not for profit organisations, healthcare professionals and the public collaborated like never before to fight the pandemic and bring hope and new treatment to millions of patients the world over. New models of clinical trials were effectively developed to ensure continuity of trials in a pandemic environment without compromising on patient safety, ethics and quality. To all these stakeholders, we owe a debit of immense gratitude. They are all our heroes!”

Even as the clinical research community focuses a lot of effort on the pandemic, the needs of other medical conditions cannot be ignored. With the world’s highest diseases burden and the second-most populous country in the world, India does less than 2% of global clinical trials. “We need to take learnings from the pandemic in terms of collaboration, digital adoption and regulatory adaptiveness and apply them to clinical trials of the future to ensure best and most affordable outcomes for patients in the most optimal time frame. I am excited about the possibilities and look forward to more collaborative efforts to strengthen the clinical trial ecosystem in our country. Once again, I salute the contribution and dedication of all our clinical trial heroes, patients most of all,” said Dr Davis.

ISCR, through its various Councils and Chapters, is organising a host of virtual events across the country to commemorate International Clinical Trials Day and calls upon all clinical researchers to participate in these events.

May 20^th every year is celebrated as International Clinical Trials’ Day to commemorate this day in 1747 when Dr James Lind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lind), a Scottish physician, conducted the first controlled clinical trial on a group of sailors suffering from scurvy. Dr Lind’s trial was carried out while at sea on board the Salisbury^[i]. All scurvy patients were given the same general diet but this was supplemented with various additional items, including cider, elixir vitriol, vinegar, seawater, nutmeg and (crucially) oranges and lemons. In just six days, those patients taking citrus fruits were fit for duty. In this manner, Dr Lind documented the fact that citrus fruits in the diet could prevent scurvy and with this trial, he was regarded as the father of clinical trials.