U-TRIAL director Peter Gisberts: “Why the Netherlands is your right choice for clinical trials”
U-TRIAL director Peter Gisberts: “Why the Netherlands is your right choice for clinical trials”
01-12-2023
The Netherlands is among the top destinations for clinical research and parties looking to bring their research to a top clinical research climate, should look no further. That was the point U-TRIAL director Peter Gisberts drove across to the audience during the Clinical Trials Europe 2023 conference in Barcelona, late November.
The Netherlands is especially well positioned for early phase clinical trials.
Within the Dutch clinical research landscape, UMC Utrecht offers an especially competitive set of possibilities, most notably the U-TASK Phase 1 unit –which, representing all of UMC Utrecht’s research themes, is unique in the Netherlands.
Necessities for successful clinical research
During his speech, Gisberts spoke about the necessary prerequisites for success in clinical research. These include access to patient organizations and well-characterized patient cohorts, a solid data structure, and a well-organized healthcare system. These essentials for excellent clinical research can be found in the Netherlands. With its well-functioning and accessible healthcare system, combined with a climate of academic excellence and an innovative research culture, the Netherlands is a great place to conduct clinical research.
Phase 1 Facilities
UMC Utrecht offers unique advantages for clinical research in the Netherlands. This includes the presence of U-TASK, the comprehensive Phase 1 unit, which encompasses 5 of the UMC Utrecht’s strategic research themes (Brain, Circulatory Health, Regenerative Medicine, Child Health, and Infection & Immunity), and for hematology and oncology trials there are dedicated and highly specialist Phase 1 Units in place. This combination makes the hospital especially attractive for all early-phase clinical trials.
Well-characterized patient cohorts
Within the UMC Utrecht, the Utrecht Trial Innovation ALiance (U-TRIAL) works hard on making the hospital the best location for clinical research. Take for instance U-TRIAL Trial and Innovation Lead for the strategic research theme Cancer, Carla Pieterman, who uses her extensive experience in building well-characterized patient cohorts to further U-TRIAL’s mission. Within the field of Oncology, the focus shifts more and more towards diagnostics and treatments that are more tailored towards the individual patient’s needs. To be able to offer such treatments, large patient cohorts are essential – it offers the researcher the chance to more precisely pinpoint which subgroup will most benefit from a specific treatment.
Reaching out
Interested in finding out what U-TRIAL can do for you? Reach out to the team through u-trial@umcutrecht.nl!