NorTrials consultants on assignment - both in the north and the south
NorTrials offers consulting services to hospitals with limited access to local own research support units, and recently, our consultants have been in both Southern and Northern Norway.
Ingrid Fjeldheim Bånerud and Anne Marie Halstensen are both consultants in NorTrials' coordinating unit and have extensive experience as research coordinators at Oslo University Hospital and Østfold Hospital Trust, respectively. They recently visited Sørlandet Hospital Trust and Helgeland Hospital Trust to provide advice on the organization of clinical trial units, staffing, and study-related issues. The meetings varied in time from 2 hours to a full-day course.
During both visits, productive and constructive discussions were held on various topics, including the organization of clinical trial units, staffing, and specific study-related issues.
"For us in NorTrials, it has also been very educational to hear about the challenges faced by research personnel at the various hospitals and how we can best assist. At the same time, we have seen opportunities to find solutions to common challenges," says Bånerud.
The advisory service is soon to mark its one-year anniversary and is one of several tasks assigned to NorTrials in the Action Plan for Clinical Trials. This is further detailed in the report Establishment of NorTrials: NorTrials is to "build a professional support system for both large and small actors in the business community, public sector, and others conducting studies in the Norwegian healthcare system. The unit will build expertise and spread best practices in industry collaboration. NorTrials will continue to build on and assist in further development of established support functions nationally"
Ingrid Bånerud, in addition to her advisory role at NorTrials, is also a research coordinator at the Neurology Clinic at Oslo University Hospital, while Anne Marie Halstensen has recently concluded her role as a research coordinator at Østfold Hospital Trust and is now retired, aside from her work with NorTrials.
"If your hospital would like assistance with general information about clinical studies or has more specific issues related to clinical studies, we would be happy to have a conversation or visit," says Halstensen.
For more information on how we can support your important work, please send an email to contactnortrials@ous-hf.no.
The article was translated from Norwegian to English using ChatGPT and edited by Ingrid Bånerud and Signe Fretland.