Welcome to the Exeter Clinical Trials Unit

About ExeCTU

ExeCTU is a leading academic clinical trials unit, registered with the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) Clinical Trials Unit Network (Registration Number 65). ExeCTU collaborates with ambitious researchers and clinicians on the design and delivery of high-quality and efficient multi-centre clinical trials and other well-designed studies, addressing important health questions to improve clinical and healthcare practice.

We work in partnership with investigators across the whole trial lifecycle: refining the research question, optimising the study design, developing the funding application, trial set-up and trial delivery, analysis, write up and dissemination.  If you are interested in working with us, please approach us at the earliest opportunity.

The ExeCTU team has extensive experience in trials methodology, study design, database programming (bespoke and electronic data capture systems), trial and data management, monitoring, statistical programming and analysis and reporting.  We have experts in health economics, process evaluation and qualitative research within the team and collaborate with other expert methodologists at the University of Exeter and beyond.  ExeCTU works closely with the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility (CRF), the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) South West Peninsula and other partners locally, nationally and internationally.

ExeCTU’s trial portfolio spans a broad range of clinical and health-related areas, including dementia, mental health, diabetes, emergency medicine and Covid-19, supported by funding from NIHR, UKRI, Horizon2020, large charities and others.  Studies include regulated drug trials, surgical, device and apps trials and trials of complex interventions, locally in the South West, nationally and internationally, utilising a breadth of study designs such as pilot/feasibility, individually and cluster randomised trials and large cohort studies.

History 

The establishment of the Exeter Clinical Support Network (ECTSN) in February 2013 and ExeCTU in 2015 reflects the University of Exeter’s ambitions to develop a sustainable portfolio of high-quality clinical trials and other studies, led by chief investigators from Exeter (academic and NHS), the South West Peninsula, across the UK and now internationally. ExeCTU obtained UKCRC registered CTU status in 2017.

Over the past five years, we have developed substantial expertise in the key areas of trial methodology and conduct, including medical statistics, health economics, process evaluation, qualitative research methods, trial management, database design and programming, data management, patient and public involvement and dissemination. We recognise that such expertise is vital for the design, conduct and analysis of high-quality trials.