08 | Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and ACCORD

Third Floor | Outside ECTU Neighbourhood

The Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit (ECTU) provides an infrastructure to design, plan and deliver clinical research studies. ECTU was founded in 2006 to encompass the infrastructure for running multi-centre clinical trials already in Edinburgh and to build on that capacity. ECTU offers support at all stages of the development and progress of a clinical trial from trial planning to trial delivery and reporting.

The Academic and Clinical Central Office for Research and Development (ACCORD) is a partnership between the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian Health Board. 

By drawing together key research management staff from these organisations, ACCORD provides streamlined access to professional advice, expert regulatory support and world class clinical research infrastructure. We support researchers and commercial companies throughout the UK and internationally to conduct their clinical research. This partnership is underpinned by the first joint Research Framework Agreement in Scotland.

ACCORD supports around 1000 projects every year, ranging from small student studies to complex interventional investigations and multi-centre international trials.

ECTU and ACCORD are co-located for the first time in the Usher Building, providing a one-stop shop for trials support.

Exhibitor: Gillian Scott


This study quantified the carbon footprint of six neurology clinical trials, using the guidance and data collection tools developed by the Low Carbon Clinical Trials (CiCT) group. Climate change is a significant global health threat and reducing carbon consumption needs to be prioritised, including within clinical research. We searched two clinical trial registries for phase 2-4 randomised controlled trials who enrolled people with any of the 15 neurological disorders with the highest global burden of disease (GBD). We invited eligible trials to share data to allow us to quantify estimated carbon emissions of each trial. The primary outcome measure was kilograms (kg) of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e). Results showed the highest contributors to the carbon footprint of these six trials was the Clinical Trial Unit staff emissions, with commuting accounting for >50% of estimated emissions. The second and third highest contribution for these six trials were trial-specific participant assessments, and trial supplies and equipment. Other notable contributing factors for these trials include archiving, imaging and IMP distribution. These findings are in line with existing research in this field and highlight the modifiable areas where greener practices can be considered in clinical trials. Areas where we can potentially reduce the carbon footprint of clinical trials include awareness and development of sustainable travel practices, increased use of technology and a change in practice from funders and governing bodies to encourage greener and more sustainable research practices.

Exhibitor: Denise Cranley


Exhibitor: Hannah Ensor


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