Belfast Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) is a partnership of the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR) in Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Belfast HSC Trust. Belfast ECMC is one of 17 Adult ECMC Centres in a UK Network. Belfast has been a designated ECMC Centre since 2007 following successive co-funded awards by Cancer Research UK and HSC R&D Division of the Public Health Agency. The most recent award of 5-year funding was in 2023.
The ultimate aim of Belfast ECMC is to improve regional and national access to early phase trials for patients, thereby improving treatment outcomes.
The mission of Belfast ECMC is to effectively translate discovery research into biomarker-guided, biologically-informed clinical trials. This is undertaken in collaboration with other ECMCs, industry, national and international partners, and public/patients. Scientific expertise in prediction of response and resistance is applied to both ‘standard-of-care’ and novel treatments to develop innovative trials with ECMCs across the network.
Belfast ECMC research themes are:
- Improving patient care and outcomes through better access to experimental cancer medicine clinical trials.
- Development of innovative experimental cancer medicine trials arising from our discovery science.
- Excellence in translational and biomarker experimental cancer medicine research.
- Development of novel therapeutic agents for cross network early phase trials.
- Data science to support experimental cancer medicine trials.
Belfast ECMC at QUB incorporates PGJCCR and the Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence (PMCOE), Health Data Research UK, Genomics/Bioinformatics Core Technology Units, and a growing early detection programme.
NI Cancer Trials Network (NICTN) at Belfast Trust supports the development and delivery of Belfast ECMC studies. The Belfast ECMC portfolio comprises Cancer Research UK, commercial, academic and local investigator-initiated experimental cancer medicine studies including phase I, non-randomised phase II and translational trials.
We value our close partnership with the NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum, funders and pharma and biotech industry. Collaborations also include NI Cancer Research Network, iREACH HEALTH, NI Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland, Cancer Trials Ireland, The All-Ireland Cancer Consortium, All-Island Cancer Research Institute.
The Belfast ECMC Research Management Service (RMS)
The Belfast ECMC RMS is a service that is additional to the core services of the NICTN (see NICTN section ‘About Us’). The RMS facilitates protocol development, research permissions, study conduct and oversight for small, investigator-led studies from researchers based in Northern Ireland with a local HSC or academic sponsor.
Background to the Belfast ECMC RMS
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- A service provided by Belfast ECMC to support quality delivery of local clinical research
- Operates within the HSC R&D infrastructure
- Management throughout the study lifecycle
- Independent of site function
- 3 Key Dimensions of Support
- Project Management
- Data Management
- Regulatory Management
Scope of the RMS
- HSC Trust or local academic sponsor
- Investigator-led
- Single-centre/multi-centre (NI only)
- Studies can be in adults or children, blood cancers or solid tumours and in pre-malignant disease as well as invasive malignancies. However, we may not have adequate expertise for certain methodologies or diseases.
Note: The scope of the RMS excludes studies managed by the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit (NICTU) or any other accredited CTU. Belfast ECMC RMS does not include any formal statistical support, and requests for this should be made to the NI Methodology Hub who are providing a statistical and methodological ‘sign-posting and advice service’ for HSC researchers.
Objectives of the RMS
- More guidance and templates for researchers
- More seamless communication
- Efficient use of resources
- Shorter timelines
The RMS in Practice
Potential Wider Impact of the RMS
- High quality research / maximum patient benefit
- High impact publications
- Promotes progressive research culture
- Timely clinical innovation
- Successful inspection outcomes
- Positive reputation and funding impact
Investigator GCP and CV requirements
National Institutes of Health Research GCP Training
The website below can be used for creating a new account or accessing an NIHR account to undertake GCP training (secondary care option).
http://learn.nihr.ac.uk/mod/certificate/view.php?id=286
(accessed 27 February 2024)
NICTN CV Template
Please see NICTN CV Template for completion. Other CV formats can also be submitted if they incorporate the template information.