If you are interested in seeking our advice or collaborating with us on a research project, please email us. We recommend making contact early, preferably during the outline application development phase, to take full advantage of our expertise and increase the likelihood of a successful application. 

If you wish to have CPTU as your official trials unit for a study, we can provide oversight of the main trial activities, including: trial design, risk assessment, costings, protocol development, obtaining approvals (MHRA, REC, HRA, CAG), regulatory and ethics submissions, statistical analysis, study oversight, data management, database development and CRF design, randomization and unblinding, patient and public involvement, IMP management, trial committee set-up and management, and recruitment of study staff.  

If you are interested in seeking our advice or collaborating with us on a study, please send us an email at cptu-enquiries@qmul.ac.uk. 

CPTU Oversight

All CPTU trials have their own trial management group (TMG), Trial Steering Group (TSC) and, where applicable, a Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). A senior CPTU representative, typically either the Director or Head of Operations (or deputy), attends these committees. Any deviation from this oversight structure is discussed and agreed with the study sponsors/funders.   

Our procedures and clear escalation pathways ensure senior members of the CPTU core team retain oversight of trial specific activities, including trial set-up and recruitment progress, pharmacovigilance, protocol non-compliances, reporting and trial closure and archiving. 

All CPTU staff attend and regularly present at the fortnightly Cancer Prevention Group departmental meetings (the wider department for CPTU). These multidisciplinary progress updates are attended by epidemiologists, statisticians, basic scientists and clinicians. Their translational nature not only promotes the development of new ideas and working collaborations but also provide an opportunity to report on trial progresses. 

Scientific and resource committees 

The CPTU adoption process for new research proposals involves a review and approval by two independent committees prior to the submission of a full funding application. The Scientific Committee (SC), chaired by the CPTU Director, reviews for scientific excellence and how the research will complement and support the unit's strategic direction of the unit. Studies approved by the SC are then considered by a Resource Committee (RC), which reviews relevant operational aspects (e.g. day-to-day management, recruitment strategy and projected accrual, risk assessment versus monitoring resource requirements etc.) and confirms whether the resources being requested are adequate. The RC, chaired by the CPTU Head of Operations, includes the CPTU Operations Manager (Delivery), QA Manager, Senior Applications Developer, and Behavioural Scientist. The CPTU Director is responsible for approving the final adoption of a new trial to the CPTU portfolio. 

The unit's strategic direction is maintained through regular strategy meetings with the CPTU Strategic Advisory Board and between the CPTU Director and Head of Operations.