How the DMD Hub helps Industry

The DMD Hub helps sites meet industry requirements for DMD clinical trials. We do this by providing training, mentoring and resources.

The Hub works collaboratively with industry partners to provide advice and support to sites that are setting up and running DMD clinical trials.

The DMD Hub helps industry by providing a flexible approach and tailored support, which may include;

  • facilitating selection of sites able and willing to run clinical trials
  • connecting with the principal investigators and research teams at potential clinical trial sites
  • providing tools to help plan and conduct trials via the evolving Hub Toolkit
  • facilitating training and mentoring for trial staff, including physiotherapists, clinical trial co-ordinators and clinical research associates
  • advising on the clinical trial approval process, based on prior experience, to accelerate the timelines as much as possible
  • supporting the development of sites which can conduct non-ambulant trials
  • collaborating with TREAT-NMD Advisory Committee for Therapeutics (TACT) to provide advice on protocol development
  • working with TREAT-NMD to access tools developed to accelerate clinical trials in the neuromuscular field

Collaborators 

In its first year of operation, the DMD-Hub has worked successfully with industry to increase DMD-Hub site capabilities.

During 2018, we have already carried out site feasibility enquires for companies interested in initiating or expanding trial capacity in the UK. The Hub has also worked closely with academic principal investigators (PIs) to develop academic-led clinical trials.

Our collaborators to date include:

History

Before the Hub was launched, DMD clinical trials were only conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital.

This meant that only a few clinical trials could be conducted for DMD. So very few patients were able to participate in trials each year.

In 2016, Duchenne UK launched The Hub. 

We are now working with staff at the two original sites to develop a network of sites across the UK. They are providing expert DMD advice and training to enable new sites to begin running trials. This will relieve pressure on the experienced sites.

Within the first year of operation, the Hub expects two to three new trial sites in the UK to be selected for industry-led DMD trials.

Our ongoing training at other sites should open more new opportunities in the future.

Ultimately, the mission of the DMD Hub is to ensure all patients with DMD, both children and adults, have access to clinical research trials.

We are also exploring how we can address the issues of sustainability and expanding the model to other rare neuromuscular diseases.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?

INCREASED TRIAL CAPACITY/MORE SITES

The aim of the DMD Hub is to make more clinical trial sites ready by providing training, mentoring and resources. Ensure more sites have experience and training in running DMD trials. Increase feasibility and expand numbers of sites. Ensures that the UK has a common approach to clinical trials and is thinking about trials systematically. This ensures more trial sites are resourced and trained to carry out high-quality DMD clinical trials.

HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING AT SITES ACROSS THE UK

The Hub’s aim is to make more clinical sites trial ready by providing training, mentoring and resources to help them achieve the requirements set by industry to run clinical trials.

PROVIDE THE SAME STANDARD OF TRAINING ACROSS ALL DMD HUB SITES

Trial and training coordination to train and support sites to fulfil the study criteria.

SCOPING

With continual intelligence gathered from industry and academics through all DMD Hub staff.