Trial Talk

Every year on 1st December, we mark World AIDS Day to show solidarity in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and to remember those who have sadly lost their lives. Since the start of the global AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, researchers have made enormous progress towards preventing HIV transmission, and treating those who are living with HIV so that the virus remains suppressed. But while there have been marked improvements for adults, treatment coverage in children and adolescents is lagging behind. In the second of our World AIDS Day episodes, we highlight the important role that young people living with HIV play in research, by shaping clinical trials to better serve the needs of their community. This episode features Lungile Jafta, who works closely with young people through Penta’s youth engagement programmes, and Gugu, a former Youth Trials Board member from South Africa who is living with HIV.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-stories/2023/december/trial-talk-podcast-releases-new-episodes-for-world-aids-day/

For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected] As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in the future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Date of episode recording: 2023-12-01
Duration: 00:19:01
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Charlotte Hartley
Guests: Lungile Jafta, Gugu (former Youth Trials Board member)
Producer: Charlotte Hartley

Every year on 1st December, we mark World AIDS Day to show solidarity in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and to remember those who have sadly lost their lives. Since the start of the global AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, researchers have made enormous progress towards preventing HIV transmission, and treating those who are living with HIV so that the virus remains suppressed. But while there have been marked improvements for adults, treatment coverage in children and adolescents is lagging behind. In the first of our World AIDS Day episodes, Dr Anna Turkova, Clinical Principal Research Fellow at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, and Philippa Musoke, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University, explore the reasons for these disparities and how the MRC CTU at UCL is working to close the gap between adults and children through clinical trials.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-stories/2023/december/trial-talk-podcast-releases-new-episodes-for-world-aids-day/

For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected] 

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in the future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g 

Date of episode recording: 2023-12-01
Duration: 00:24:04
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Charlotte Hartley
Guests: Anna Turkova, Philippa Musoke
Producer: Charlotte Hartley

Octopus is a new clinical trial for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), which is designed and run by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, Octopus has the potential to transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested. The trial is now open in the UK and will be recruiting participants for the next few years. The podcast mini-series will explore the trial from different perspectives by talking to neurologists, MS experts and people affected by MS. In the final part, we explore the role of people affected by MS in the Octopus trial. Susan Scott, a pharmaceutical publications specialist and Octopus patient representative, shares her involvement in the trial and explains how PPI has benefited Octopus so far. 

For more information and to access the transcript: bit.ly/3S6FKP4 

For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected].

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in the future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g.

Date of episode recording: 2023-05-19Duration: 00:20:02Language of episode: EnglishPresenter: Berta Terre-TorrasGuests: Susan ScottProducer: Berta Terre-Torra 

Octopus is a new clinical trial for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), which is designed and run by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, Octopus has the potential to transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested. The trial is now open in the UK and will be recruiting participants for the next few years. The podcast mini-series will explore the trial from different perspectives by talking to neurologists, MS experts and people affected by MS. In Part 3, MS experts Dawn Lyle and Matthew Justin walk us through the journey that trial participants take when taking part in Octopus, from how to register your interest in the trial, to what to expect on your first visit.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3S6FKP4  

Date of episode recording: 2023-06-06
Duration: 00:24:04
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Berta Terre-Torras
Guests: Dawn Lyle, Matthew Justin
Producer: Berta Terre-Torras

Octopus is a new clinical trial for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), which is designed and run by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL.Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, Octopus has the potential to transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested. The trial is now open in the UK and will be recruiting participants for the next few years. The podcast mini-series will explore the trial from different perspectives by talking to neurologists, MS experts and people affected by MS. Part 1 covers the treatment and research landscape of MS and the challenges of treating progressive MS. It features Jeremy Chataway, neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at UCLH, and Professor of Neurology at UCL, and co-lead of the Neurodegenerative Diseases programme at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, who is leading the Octopus trial. We also hear from Dawn Lyle, Lead Research MS Nurse, and Matthew Justin, MS Specialist, who are based at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurologic Clinic in Edinburgh.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3S6FKP4   

Date of episode recording: 2023-07-06
Duration: 00:24:10
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Berta Terre-Torras
Guests: Jeremy Chataway
Producer: Berta Terre-Torras

Octopus is a new clinical trial for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, Octopus has the potential to transform the way treatments for progressive MS are tested. The trial is now open in the UK and will be recruiting participants for the next few years. The podcast mini-series will explore the trial from different perspectives by talking to neurologists, MS experts and people affected by MS. Part 1 covers the treatment and research landscape of MS and the challenges of treating progressive MS. It features Jeremy Chataway, neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at UCLH and Professor of Neurology at UCL, who is leading the Octopus trial. We also hear from Dawn Lyle, Lead Research MS Nurse, and Matthew Justin, MS Specialist, who are based at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurologic Clinic in Edinburgh.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3S6FKP4 

Date of episode recording: 2023-06-07
Duration: 00:17:20
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Berta Terre-Torras
Guests: Jeremy Chattaway; Dawn Lyle; Matthew Justin
Producer: Berta Terre-Torras 

Innovative platform designs present an opportunity to run faster and more efficient clinical trials. Clinical trials methodology is a research area that looks at how to improve the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials. It focuses on developing and implementing new methods to help run trials faster and more efficiently, that will ultimately accelerate the discovery of new treatments. In this episode, methodologist Matteo Quartagno tells us about a new clinical trial design called MAMS-ROCI. It is a type of multi-arm multi-stage design that compares a range of different treatment durations, doses or frequencies to identify the optimal one. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://bit.ly/3ZpyKhG 

Date of episode recording: 2023-05-16
Duration: 00:24:28
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Berta Terre-Torras
Guests: Matteo Quartagno
Producer: Berta Terre-Torras 

STAMPEDE is a long-running trial in advanced prostate cancer, in which nearly 12,000 men have taken part. Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, STAMPEDE has tested many different treatments and directly led to improvements in the standard of prostate cancer care several times. This Trial Talk podcast mini-series will explore the trial’s journey from its inception in the early 2000s to the end of patient recruitment in March 2023.

In the final part, Max Parmar and Nick James look back over the trial’s impact on clinical practice and platform trial design, and look forward to STAMPEDE2 and their hopes for the future of prostate cancer research.

Further information is available on the STAMPEDE study page at www.mrcctu.ac.uk
For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected] 

For more information and to access the transcript: bit.ly/3OQWhV8 

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Date of episode recording: 2023-08-24
Duration: 00:23:23
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Charlotte Hartley
Guests: Max Parmar, Nick James
Producer: Charlotte Hartley

STAMPEDE is a long-running trial in advanced prostate cancer, in which nearly 12,000 men have taken part. Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, STAMPEDE has tested many different treatments and directly led to improvements in the standard of prostate cancer care several times. This Trial Talk podcast mini-series will explore the trial’s journey from its inception in the early 2000s to the end of patient recruitment in March 2023. Part 2 is about patient and public involvement (PPI) in the trial. David Matheson, a Reader at the University of Wolverhampton and STAMPEDE patient representative, shares his insight into the work this entails and why it is so important to champion the voices of patients.

We also hear about PPI from the perspective of trial researchers, Max Parmar and Nick James. - Further information is available on the STAMPEDE study page at www.mrcctu.ac.uk For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected] 

For more information and to access the transcript: bit.ly/3OQWhV8 

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Date of episode recording: 2023-08-17
Duration: 00:18:00
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Charlotte Hartley
Guests: David Matheson, Max Parmar, Nick James
Producer: Charlotte Hartley

STAMPEDE is a long-running trial in advanced prostate cancer, in which nearly 12,000 men have taken part. Thanks to its multi-arm multi-stage platform design, STAMPEDE has tested many different treatments and directly led to improvements in the standard of prostate cancer care several times. This Trial Talk podcast mini-series will explore the trial’s journey from its inception in the early 2000s to the end of patient recruitment in March 2023. Part 1 covers the landscape of prostate cancer treatment before STAMPEDE, as well how the trial was designed, featuring two researchers who lead the methodological and clinical sides of the trial: Max Parmar, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology and Director of the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL and UCL's Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, and Nick James, Professor of Prostate and Bladder Cancer Research at the Institute of Cancer Research. Further information is available on the STAMPEDE study page at www.mrcctu.ac.uk For questions or feedback on the series, message us at [email protected] 

For more information and to access the transcript: bit.ly/3OQWhV8 

As a listener, your opinion is very valuable to us. Please help us to improve the podcast in future by filling in this short survey: forms.office.com/e/PjfjQ5Mn6g

Date of episode recording: 2023-08-10
Duration: 00:18:03
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Charlotte Hartley
Guests: Max Parmar, Nick James
Producer: Charlotte Hartley