David Sackett suggests that the Medical Research Council (MRC) is neglecting clinical trials, a key area of health research.1 In fact, MRC is improving support for clinical trials and correcting some of the problems identified by Sackett.
In fiscal year 1999/2000, MRC's investment in a total of 100 trials is $9.7 million, including 32 trials ($2.0 million) funded through the University-Industry Program. MRC provides $250 000 for trials methodology studies and awards training and career support to trials researchers, such as Michael Kramer of McGill University, an MRC Distinguished Scientist. Industry partner funding, leveraged through the University-Industry Program, provides a further $8.7 million. The total annual investment in MRC-sponsored trials research is therefore in excess of $18.7 million.
MRC's support for trials has more than doubled since 1997/98, while the overall grants budget has increased by 31%. The increase in support of trials is proportionately greater than for any other MRC program. Unfortunately, MRC's budget still cannot support all meritorious applications. Sackett noted that in the last 2 competitions 40% of deserving trial proposals could not be funded; for other grants, the figure was 59%. Financial constraints also force Council to cut budgets of approved grants by usually 10%-20%. In the last 2 competitions, Council has spared the budgets of approved trials, recognizing their unique nature.
MRC has launched a program to support international trials (www.mrc.gc.ca/proposals/proposals.html). We sponsored an evaluation of the outcomes of MRC-funded trials and a recent workshop where leading researchers debated the future of trials research, as MRC transforms into the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research's commitment "to excel in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians" will require substantial investment in clinical trials.
Reference
- 1.↵