CTTI LogoThe Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) Steering Committee gathered in Washington, D.C. on September 25th to discuss how clinical trials fit within scientific strategies to address public health priorities, review the portfolio of initiatives, and discuss future proposals.

An overview of public health was provided by representatives from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Amgen, Patient-Centered Research Foundation (PCRF), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A major topic of discussion was the existing barriers to clinical trials and how social media can be utilized to provide more access to underserved and hard-to-reach populations. Increasing efforts to educate providers will continue and is viewed as a key component of increasing access to trials.

The mission of CTTI is to develop and drive adoption of practices that will increase the quality and efficiency of clinical trials. It is comprised of more than 80 organizations from across the clinical trial enterprise including representatives from government agencies, industry representatives, patient advocacy groups, professional societies, investigator groups, academic institutions and other interested parties. For more than 10 years, this collaborative effort has continually kept patient welfare in the forefront of all their initiatives.

The Life Raft Group will continue to lend our voice by serving on CTTI’s steering committee and will provide updates on the group in the future.