Layperson summaries of clinical trial results: Useful resources in the vacuum of regulatory guidance - Volume 24, Issue

To meet the requirements of the clinical trial regulation, preparation for the publication of lay summaries on the European database should be undertaken as soon as possible. However, as of July 2015 (at the time of writing this article), no…

Carbon footprint of clinical trials: a high-level literature review - Volume 31, Issue

Thousands of clinical trials are conducted globally each year. Yet, little is known about their environmental impact. This paper presents the results of a high-level literature review of the carbon footprint of clinical trials. Five papers were…

“Follow the Sun” writing: A hybrid operating model to optimize collaboration and efficiency - Volume 33, Issue

Time, quality, and accuracy are of the essence for expeditious global regulatory submissions. An around-the-clock, 24/7, global medical writing model has been developed that allows efficient development of high-quality documents with appreciable…

The COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for digitalisation and remote working in Germany - Volume 31, Issue

Remote working is ideal for medical writers, but up until a few years ago, was not widely available to those looking for a remote position with a German employer. Even though Germany is a developed country, its digitalisation has long been lagging,…

Writing for lay audiences - Volume 24, Issue

For most of us, medical writing is highly technical. We prepare regulatory or clinical documents or write materials targeted to medical doctors. Medical writing for lay audiences is different, and it does not come naturally to most of us because…

Medical Communications and Writing for Patients - Volume 30, Issue

Dear All,

As I write this, at least some of us are likely to still be in some form of lockdown or quarantine. I pray that you and your families are all managing to stay as sane as possible, and I sincerely hope that you all stay safe and healthy.

I…

In the Bookstores - Volume 29, Issue

Last year, I wrote my first poem – 10 lines of free verse that, after three rejections and 229 days in queue, was purchased and published. Although I have been selling short stories since 2016, poetry is something new for me, undiscovered territory,…

Writing for Patients - Volume 29, Issue

The first thing we must say is a huge “thank you” to Dr Juan Garcia Burgos and Mr Paul Blake for taking the time in an unprecedentedly manic year for the EMA to write a foreword for this issue of Medical Writing. The fact that they have prioritised…

Subcontracting: Not for the faint of heart - Volume 28, Issue

Subcontracting can be the answer to a successful freelancer’s prayers, or the opportunity to work harder than you have ever worked before for less money than you made when you were a struggling newbie. The potential advantages of subcontracting are…

Clinical Trials in the Eurasian Economic Union - Volume 32, Issue

In January 2021, the single market of medicines of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was launched. This article describes the current status of the transition to unified rules for the registration of medicinal products and the main regulatory…