Draft:International Clinical Trials Day

May 20 is the International Clinical Trials Day and is a day to celebrate everyone involved in clinical trials. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the vital role it plays in healthcare.

Background
The day is celebrated on the anniversary of James Lind’s first recorded clinical trial on 20 May 1747 started, what is often considered the first randomised clinical trial aboard a ship to determine the cause of scurvy.

Aim
Upon publishing the results of medical or health research, it is a common tend to focus our minds on the findings and consider the implications for future treatments. However, the participants who took part in the trial are too often remained forgotten and ignored. In recent years there has been an increasing call to let trial participants know the results of trials in which they have taken part. The call has also been for this to be in a plain language summary. One of the aims of the International Clinical Trials Day is to involve all aspects of the personnel in the health and care research and increase awareness among all.