Plain language and readability - Volume 24, Issue

Plain language is writing in clear, concise language that is easy to read and understand. Whenever I hear the term plain language I am reminded of a lay summary I was once asked to edit. The stream of technical language (‘self-source bias’, ‘effect m…

Pleasing the reader by pleasing the eye—Part 2 Page layout and readability - Volume 22, Issue

The purpose of page layout is to consciously arrange text and graphics on a page in a way that supports the reading process and allows the reader to effortlessly follow the flow of information. It should blend words and images into an effective…

Out On Our Own - Volume 24, Issue

Editorial

All of us are aware by now that we can't live without technology and not only at work. With advice, aids, appliances and apps in abundance, we are at the point where we can't see the wood for the trees. Thank goodness we have advice from M…

Regulatory initiatives for artificial intelligence applications: Regulatory writing implications - Volume 32, Issue

Applications of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) components in drug development are growing exponentially. The trend is expected to continue. The growth has resulted in increased engagements on the part of regulatory agencies to…

News from the EMA - Volume 29, Issue

September 14, 2020 – The Big Data Steering Group set up by EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) has published its workplan which sets actions to be delivered in 2020–2021. With the European Medicines Regulatory Network focused on the…

The horror and the pity: Obesity and diabetes - Volume 21, Issue

Something less beguiling for a horror-story addict than the emergence of obesity would be hard to imagine. Start by reading the 27 August 2011 issue of the Lancet. One article predicts that the obesity rate in the UK will make the tremendous leap fro…

Clinical evaluation reports: 6 years after the introduction of MEDDEV 2.7/1 revision 4 - Volume 31, Issue

MEDDEV 2.7/1 is the European guideline about the clinical evaluation of medical devices. The 4th revision, in 2016, updated how clinical evaluation should be conducted and reported, thus paving the way for clinical evaluation under the Medical…

Risk Management - Volume 24, Issue

The thalidomide tragedy of the early 1960s cost several thousand lives, but it ultimately led to changes that will undoubtedly save many thousands more: it triggered a chain of events involving the WHO and the ICH that resulted in the…

Living medicine: The story of CAR T cell therapy - Volume 32, Issue

The advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies follows a decades-long quest to personalise the treatment of disease. This article highlights the early research that paved the way for the field today, touching on early pioneers in the…

Translating “medicalese”: The case of informed consent forms - Volume 33, Issue

Informed consent forms (ICFs) are documents used in clinical research to inform prospective participants about – and obtain their consent for – partaking in a clinical trial. Evidence suggests that ICFs may not be fit for purpose because their…