Leaders In Endocrinology Convene Summit To Discuss Regulatory Burdens Facing Clinical Researchers

Main Category: Endocrinology
Article Date: 12 Nov 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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For the past two days, clinical research leaders in endocrinology as well as other scientific and clinical disciplines have been meeting in Bethesda, MD to discuss regulatory impediments to clinical research and to identify recommendations for best practices aimed at balancing patient protections with researchers' ability to perform studies.

Dedicated to making the regulation of clinical research more efficient, The Endocrine Society and Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) expect that the summit: Regulation of Clinical Research: Improving the Balance, A Consensus Conference, will lead to the development of a platform from which to base future efforts to improve the state of clinical research in this country.

Over the past several years, clinical researchers have faced increasingly burdensome regulation related to inconsistent protocol review by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) as well as other regulatory hurdles associated with research involving patients. Investigators whose research focuses on children have been especially affected by regulations that, in some cases, significantly impede the progress of their research.

"Our goal is not to diminish protection for patients participating in clinical research, but to create an agreed-upon system of best practices that enable critical, life-saving research to move forward," said Society President Robert M. Carey, M.D., M.A.C.P.

In addition to Endocrine Society and LWPES representatives, leaders from government, the research community and industry are participating in the summit. Co-sponsors of the event include: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research; American Society of Clinical Oncology; American Thyroid Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; The Obesity Society; and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Recommendations for best practices are expected in early 2009.

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at http://www.endo-society.org.

The Endocrine Society