About the Centre
The specific aims of the centre are:
- To understand and optimise early phase study design to transform surgical innovation in research and clinical practice.
- To design, develop and deliver trials and prospective studies in surgery in collaboration with regional and national centres in all surgical specialties.
- To provide a training programme comprising short course and workshops in surgical trial methodology for trainees and consultants and to increase the capacity for trials through career development of surgeons.
- To provide specialist expertise for ‘difficult or complex’ trials because of recruitment issues, outcome assessment or other challenging methodological issues relevant to surgical trials.
The Centre is funded by multiple sources including the University of Bristol and the Royal College of Surgeons of England in partnership with Cancer Research UK and The Rosetrees Trust, It also benefits from project grants from the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council.
Currently, less than two per cent of UK government funding for medical research goes into surgery, despite the fact that a third of hospital admissions involve surgical interventions. We are working to rectify this deficit!