SIR Foundation has launched the Interventional Radiology Clinical Trials Network (IR CTN) to develop, promote, and facilitate a robust capability to design and complete clinical trials and cultivate a culture of research in IR.
The mission of the IR CTN is to enhance rigorous scientific investigation of new IR techniques, devices, practice models and innovative procedures to improve patient outcomes and access to care. Central to accomplishing this mission is the establishment of a robust community that enables ongoing education and mentorship of developing IR investigators, guidance on the preparation of clinical trial grant applications, sharing of best practices in clinical trial conduct, and identification of participating sites for clinical studies.
The IR CTN will provide support for IRs to develop and coordinate collaborative studies and protocols to improve patient outcomes. For more information about this task force, please visit the committee’s page.
Addressing critical needs
IR physicians bring robust clinical expertise and are highly motivated to advance care through research, but they often lack the training, mentorship and support needed to design, fund and complete the studies they conceive. The CTN infrastructure cultivates the sharing of clinical trial design and implementation expertise with other investigators to enhance clinical trials.
The goals of the IR CTN are to:
- Further enhance research education and awareness within the IR community
- Improve responsiveness to IR research priorities
- Empower and broaden participation in research trials across the range of IR practices
- Provide mentorship and guidance to new IR researchers from senior/experienced researchers
- Focus engagement in and advocacy for IR research funding support
Benefits
The IR CTN will benefit the participants, sponsors and sites by fostering research passion and enabling through mentorship the organization trials or registries that address high priority topics in IR. With your support, we can unlock the limitless potential of IR to improve lives and optimize patient care everywhere.
Clinical trials network benefits for participants/sites include:
- Grant investigators access to a capable network of sites for enrollment
- Provide a discussion forum for clinical trial concepts and design
- Provide access to educational resources for potential clinical trial investigators
- Support investigators to help identify potential private or academic trial implementation organizations evaluation or other study resources (i.e. central IRB, etc.)
- Provide a letter of support for grant/funding applications
- Empower investigators to become qualified for network participation
- Participate in community outreach activities
Clinical trials network benefits for industry/federal agencies/foundations:
- An established network of participating sites for trial concepts
- Expert level perspectives on research needs and opportunities in the IR community
- Access to clinically engaged interventional radiologists
Governance
The IR CTN Taskforce will manage the IR CTN and build the foundation for an effective, scientific priority-driven research network and seeking information on potential participating sites. This taskforce will set and manage the benchmarks required for admittance into the CTN. SIR Foundation’s core IR research priorities among the different clinical specialty groups will be used to promote rigorous scientific investigation of new IR techniques, devices, practice models, and innovative procedures to improve patient outcomes and access to care. This Taskforce will meet quarterly.
Who can participate?
Help SIR Foundation grow our network! If you are an academic or private practice investigator and are interested in participating in the IR CTN, please take this brief survey.
If you are an industry or corporate representative and are interested in participating in the IR CTN, please take this brief survey.
Dr. Sanjay Misra leads the IR CTN
Have any questions? Click here to frequently asked questions about the IR CTN.
For more information on the IR CTN and how to join, please contact SIR Foundation’s Director of Clinical Research and Grants.
