Infectious diseases continue to be a major contributor to morbidity and mortality internationally; as clearly reflected with the impact of COVID19 but also through the ongoing HIV epidemic, resurgence in sexually transmitted infections and ever-growing threats from antimicrobial resistance.
The Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Network Ireland (ID-CTNI) brings together leading academic clinicians and researchers in infectious diseases in Ireland with extensive collective expertise to meet these threats. Each of the applicants and collaborators are internationally recognised as experts in specific areas of Infectious Diseases and the Network ill provide a supportive environment for further collaboration and training.
Recognising the economic, clinical and human burden from infectious disease, the ID-CTNI has an overarching strategy to lead coordinated efforts for the conduct of infectious diseases clinical trials in Ireland, to inform and fully integrate into national policy in Infectious Diseases research as well as active in European and International Infectious Diseases Trials Networks.
The unprecedented focus on infectious diseases arising from the COVID19 pandemic provides a key opportunity to the ID-CTNI. Europe is advancing the development of large networks to conduct infectious diseases trials that will likely transform care globally. By assembling leaders in clinical and translational Infectious Diseases research in Ireland, the ID-CTNI is ideally placed to meet the key strategic challenge of maximally exploiting these opportunities to enable Ireland to meaningfully input into global solutions.
The mission of ID-CTNI is to build on existing research expertise and infrastructure to conceive, develop and conduct high impact, investigator-initiated clinical trials in clinical infectious diseases, and to utilise that knowledge to inform best clinical practice in patient care.
Our vision is, through excellence in research, to position Ireland in European and International Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials Networks. We will achieve this mission through eight key objectives to be realised within the lifetime of the award, focused on national and international networking, training, central participation from patients in the research process and conduct of key, important clinical trials.
The ID CTNI will be hosted at the UCD Clinical Research Centre (CRC) and supported by the UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEHR) and CRC across Ireland. The Network will operate under principal of gender balance and equality, administered through a clear governance structure, with aligned workpackages, embedded within the Host institution (UCD) and will implement strategies aimed at achieving sustainable funding within the lifetime of the award. The Network will achieve this through leveraging expertise in leading, directing and assisting clinical trials and investigations, both investigator and industry led, to develop new funding proposals that will benefit the Network’s capability to achieve its stated objectives as well as through international collaborations with other Infectious Diseases Networks.
