Clinical Trials Day is celebrated around the world each May.

It marks the  the day James Lind started what is often considered the first  clinical trial aboard a ship on May 20, 1747. Then scurvy is thought to have killed more British seamen than French and Spanish arms.

Surgeon mate James Lind, a pioneer of naval hygiene, conducted what many refer to as the first clinical trial. His trial consisted of just 12 men, grouped into pairs and given a variety of dietary supplements from cider to oranges and lemons. The trial only lasted six days but, within that time, there was a noticeable improvement in the group eating the fruit, providing Lind with the evidence required of the link between citrus fruits and scurvy.

Our Research Team marked the day on Monday by showcasing some of the research we are doing across the Trust in areas of Cancer, Cardiology, Paediatrics, Stroke, Ophthalmology, Renal and Diabetes.

Several staff, patient and visitors took part in a mock ‘chocolate trial’ to show how a clinical trial works and many others took part in a competition to guess how many patients took part in research during 2016-17, the winner was close by guessing 2,301 – the actual figure was 2,626!

Stalls were set up at both HRI and CRH foyer and carried the theme ‘I am Research’ – thanks to all those who wore the badge for us to promote the importance of research in our Trust.

We hope to opening a new international trial in surgery on hip replacement that’s looking at the benefits of hip replacement within 6 hours of presentation.

**Our R&D Lead, Lead Nurse and Senior Nurse also presented at the National R&D Forum in Manchester last week where they shared good practice on team development following a re-structure of their research delivery team. See photo

Help to raise our profile by following  the research team on twitter @CHFTResearch