Institute of Clinical Research Celebrates 30 Years

Main Category: Conferences
Article Date: 03 Dec 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) has announced an updated format to mark its 30th Annual Spring Conference and Exhibition next year, including four new conference streams and top industry speakers.

The event is entitled Essential Updates and Lively Debates and will be held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham on 17th and 18th March 2009.

To mark the 30th anniversary, the ICR has responded to member feedback and updated the format of the conference and exhibition to now feature speaker sessions across four specific streams - Therapeutics, Raising Standards, Sharing Knowledge and Developing Professionals. The streams will see the ICR's usual high calibre of leading clinical research professionals discussing and debating key topics.

Both days of the conference will open with question and debate sessions covering controversial topics headed by the chief executive of Kings Fund Niall Dickson and author and broadcaster Martin Ince, with panel members including professor of cancer medicine at Imperial College London Karol Sikora. Professor Sikora will also lead the Therapeutic stream presenting on oncology alongside sessions on cardiovascular medicine and transplants.

The Raising Standards stream includes a session focusing on quality vs productivity and Dr Eva Bagenholm, the chair of the World Medical Association's (WMA) Ethics Committee will be presenting on the Declaration of Helsinki. Developing Professionals will feature an interactive Good Clinical Practice (GCP) 'question time' along with workshops on medical devices and project management.

Sharing Knowledge will discuss adaptive study design, off-shoring clinical research and stem cell research while the Therapeutics stream will cover oncology, cardiovascular medicine and transplants.

The event has been redesigned to help it better suit those at all stages of their careers from senior managers to those just entering the industry and Susan Ollier, chair of the ICR, is confident the new format will be popular with the delegates and exhibitors. She said: "The ICR Spring Conference and Exhibition has been the foremost event in any clinical researcher's calendar for many years now but we are always looking to improve and refine it for our members.

"As it is our 30th anniversary it made perfect sense to revitalise the schedule and help our delegates get the most out of the event and attend the sessions most relevant to them. We have enhanced our speaker programme and added chaired debates to make the event more interactive and address more member questions."

The restructured exhibition design will this year feature an exhibitor theatre where organisations will have 20 minutes to showcase their new ideas. In addition, half day passes will be available for the conference and ICR members will receive CPD points for all sessions attended.

The ICR has further expanded its networking opportunities with a drinks reception on the Monday evening before the event begins and a 1978-themed gala dinner and party, celebrating the ICR's 30th birthday.

For further details about the 30th Anniversary ICR Spring Conference and Exhibition, or to register as a delegate or exhibitor, call the ICR on 01628 536971 or visit the website at http://www.icr-global.org/community.

About the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR)

The ICR was established in 1978 and with an expanding global presence, is the largest professional clinical research body in Europe and India. Putting members first, its vision is to be internationally recognised as the premier organisation for clinical research, respected as a key influencer, promoting knowledge and understanding by engaging the healthcare community and the general public.

The ICR operates a number of special interest groups covering issues from paediatrics, research nursing and clinical pharmacology to project management, medical devices and resourcing. It has been awarded Investors in People (IiP) accreditation, is a licensed body for Chartered Scientist status and collaborates with Cranfield University and Manchester University on MSc courses in clinical research.

Each year the ICR holds is Annual Spring Conference & Exhibition which is attended by a broad range of delegates from across the pharmaceutical industry, academia and the NHS, all looking to keep up to date, make new contacts, renew old acquaintances or cement relationships. In 2009 the Spring Conference & Exhibition theme will be Essential Updates & Lively Debate and it will be held on 17th and 18th March at the ICC in Birmingham.

Institute of Clinical Research

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