ESCMID Postgraduate course

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for generating high-quality clinical evidence in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. Yet, many clinicians, trainees and researchers have limited hands-on experience in designing, running and analysing clinical trials – and often don’t know where to begin.

This introductory to intermediate course is designed to bridge that gap.

Over three intensive days, participants will gain practical, real-world insight into every stage of an RCT, from formulating a clinically meaningful research question to publishing results and translating evidence into practice. The programme combines expert-led lectures with highly interactive workshops, ensuring that learning is immediately applicable to participants’ own research ambitions.

Sessions will be delivered by internationally recognised experts with direct experience in conducting RCTs in infectious diseases and microbiology. Each session includes dedicated time for discussion, encouraging active participation and exchange of ideas.

A key highlight of the course is the interactive workshop programme:

Two idea-pitching workshops, where participants can present their own trial concepts and receive constructive feedback from faculty and peers to refine study design and feasibility.

One problem-solving workshop, focused on real-life challenges encountered in clinical trials, with collaborative brainstorming led by experienced trialists.
In addition to structured learning, the course offers ample opportunities for informal discussion, networking and collaboration with faculty and fellow participants from around the world.

Intended audience:

Clinicians, trainees and scientists in the fields of infectious diseases and microbiology with no or minimal clinical trials experience

Objectives:

Course participants should come away from this course with the knowledge and skills to (in the field of ID and clinical microbiology):

Generate clinically important questions to test in RCTs
Chose the optimal trial design and endpoints
Write a clinical trial protocol
Obtain funding and ethics approval for a trial
Design participant information sheets and engage with health consumers
Plan the statistical analysis and sample size of RCTs
Anticipate and solve problems and roadblocks in RCTs
Understand how to analyse RCTs
Turn your results into a paper, get it published, and ensure the results are translated into clinical practice

Course coordinators:

Joshua Davis, Australia
Angela Huttner, Switzerland
Steven Tong, Australia