Monday 27 July 2009

The Postgraduate Medical Institute at Anglia Ruskin University helped celebrate International Clinical Trials Day on 20 May 2009 with a special display at the university. The commemorative event was supported by members of the Vision and Eye Researcher Unit (VERU).

It was on 20 May 1747 that James Lind, surgeon on HMS Salisbury, started to compare the effect of six oral treatments on six pairs of sailors with scurvy. All received the same diet, and in addition each pair was given either cider, elixir of vitriol (sulphuric acid), vinegar, seawater, spices and barley water, or oranges and lemons. Within six days, one of the sailors given oranges and lemons was fit for duty and the other was able to nurse the sailors in the other groups. It was not until 40 years later than Admiralty Order was issued on the supply of lemon juice to ships, but with this, scurvy disappeared almost completely from the Royal Navy.

The Postgraduate Medical Institute of Anglia Ruskin celebrated the day with a display in the main entrance of the Cambridge Campus. This gave individuals interested in NHS research the opportunity to meet and find out about the principles of clinical trials. Information was provided on how they are conducted and specifically how research projects within Anglia Ruskin can be matched with NHS research funding to sponsor trials in partner hospitals and primary care trusts. Members of VERU, which is one of the priority areas of the Institute, promoted the event.

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