Big data in clinical research: Present and future - Volume 29, Issue

The clinical research landscape is gradually changing as we enter the era of big data. Big data sources are multiplying as existing sources collide to create expanded platforms that serve wider areas of expertise. Clinical study designs…

Differences between writing for medical devices and pharmaceuticals: An update - Volume 31, Issue

Although the medical device and pharmaceutical industries are related, they are governed by distinct regulatory systems. Despite the similarities, the inherent differences between medical devices and drugs have implications for clinical research…

The periodic safety update report and post market surveillance report under the new EU Medical Device Regulation - Volume 31, Issue

The new EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 (MDR) requires companies to provide a periodic safety update report (PSUR) and a post market surveillance report (PMSR). Creating these reports will strengthen the post market surveillance and vigilance…

Pleasing the reader by pleasing the eye—Part 1 The role of format and design in readability - Volume 21, Issue

Whoever writes wants to be read. Yet, even if we succeed in creating an informative, logically structured, and adequately worded text tailored to our target audience, i.e., text we consider to have an adequate level of readability, our documents may…

Selling evidence over the counter: Do community pharmacists engage with evidence-based medicine? - Volume 22, Issue

Community pharmacy has been recently criticised for selling products which do not have a rational or robust evidence base. Available evidence suggests that pharmacists understand and are willing to embrace the concepts of evidence-based medicine…

A beginner´s guide to writing clinical investigation plans and reports for medical devices - Volume 31, Issue

A clinical investigation plan for a medical device must outline and justify all objectives of the clinical investigation, present and justify the investigational design and methodology, and state principal features of  the statistical analysis. A…

Out On Our Own - Volume 23, Issue

Preclinical studies - Volume 26, Issue

Welcome to this special issue about nonclinical and preclinical research. Nonclinical and preclinical research is the first step toward new drug development, where scientists investigate mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety. Many…

The reproducibility crisis in preclinical research – lessons to learn from clinical research - Volume 26, Issue

In recent years, the robustness and reproducibility of preclinical data have been a topic for discussion. Quality standards and good practices are often not well defined for different in vitro methods and in vivo models,and not harmonised amongst…

On educating the medical writer - Volume 22, Issue

Most medical writers received their education on the job rather than through formal education. These writers may have gaps in knowledge when compared with lists of competencies published by professional organisations in the clinical research and…