Statement on 2020 International Clinical Trials Day campaign

Dear Partners,
 
Just a few weeks ago we shared an initial briefing with you, outlining our plans to raise awareness and interest in public participation and involvement in research through our annual ‘Be Part of Research’ campaign.
 
This was due to begin in May to coincide with International Clinical Trials Day (ICTD) on 20 May. Regrettably we have decided that it is not appropriate to go ahead with the 'Be Part of Research' campaign we had planned. We will, however, mark International Clinical Trials Day via our social media channels.
 
No new date for the campaign has been set and we are thinking through how best to proceed with this campaign as well as the Your Path in Research campaign, planned for the autumn. We will need to take into account national, NHS and NIHR priorities and resources and the time needed for national and local teams to plan campaign delivery.
 
We realise that many teams will have already started planning for ICTD and some have contributed to the national campaign planning with case studies and other support. Thank you so much for this - your contributions will not be wasted - and we hope that we will be able to count on your support again when the time is right.
 
Please note that we are temporarily closing our online print shop so you will not be able to order leaflets, posters and merchandise for the time being. However, when it is appropriate to do so, we will reopen it, even outside the campaign period.
 
Thank you for your support to date and we wish you well in the weeks ahead.
 
Kind regards,
 
Chelsea Drake
 
Head of Communications, NIHR Clinical Research Network