I would like to set up a clinical trial

Information on non-industry sponsored trials and funding opportunities

Joining the DTI Portfolio

‘Clinical trials are research studies performed in people that are aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioural intervention. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, like a new drug or diet or medical device (for example, a pacemaker) is safe and effective in people’.

Dementia Trials Ireland aims to support portfolio-adopted investigator-led and industry-sponsored studies spanning the life course of dementia, from pre-dementia to advanced stage dementia. PhD projects, if aligned to DTI strategic goals, may be considered for portfolio adoption

The DTI Portfolio Management Group will review submissions for trial adoption and network support.

Trial Adoption Requirements

  • Study is fully funded
  • Externally peer-reviewed
  • Ethically approved
  • Taking place in Ireland (at least one site)
  • Consistent with the vision and mission and strategic aims of DTI

Please submit enquiries to [email protected]

DTI Seed Funding

Dementia Trials Ireland will advertise an annual seed funding call which will support early career researchers whose work directly aligns with the future trial development within DTI.

Funding proposals will be based on the following priorities: dementia in intellectual disability, dementia in nursing homes, palliative care in dementia, neuromodulation for Parkinson’s-related dementia/MCI: 

  • Development of Core Outcome Sets (COS)  
  • A priority setting partnership (PSP), supported by James Lind Alliance methodology  
  • Evidence synthesis that would support trial planning

Applications will be reviewed annually by the DTI Seed Funding Selection Committee. 

The first seed funding bursary was awarded to Dr. Irina Kinchin in November 2022. Dr. Kinchin’s work will focus on setting research priorities for Lewy Body Dementia in Ireland.

Dr. Patrick Crowley was awarded the network’s 2023 Early Career Research Seed Funding award. Dr. Crowley will be looking at the relationship between sleep and cognitive impairment, and analysing whether reducing sleep disturbance can slow cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment/mild dementia.

Dr. Eliza Georgiou, is the 2024/5 recipient of DTI’s ECR Seed Funding Award. Dr. Georgiou’s research will focus on assessing the feasibility of introducing disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Alzheimer’s disease in Ireland. The study will address equity of access, infrastructure requirements, and logistical challenges in public and private healthcare settings.

We envisage the next annual funding call to be announced in May 2026.

Trial Considerations

There are many facets to a clinical trial which impact design, development and delivery. DTI collaborates with fellow HRB clinical trial infrastructures which can support investigators in setting up a study.

The HRB-National Clinical Trials Office (HRB-NCTO) is a collaborative programme between HRB, Enterprise Ireland and CRF/Cs in the Republic of Ireland, hosted by University College Cork. HRB-NCTO is the central point of contact for the national feasibility service, ECRIN, and CRFManager. It provides a number of systemic strategic supports to academic and commercial partners in support of a harmonised strategic national approach and the conduct of high-quality clinical trials in Ireland.

Contact: [email protected]

 

Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Ignite promotes excellence and inspires innovation in public and patient involvement (PPI) in health and social care research in Ireland. Public and patient involvement in research means that the public and patients are involved in planning and doing research from start to finish and help tell the public about the results of research.

Contact: [email protected]

 

European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) facilitates multinational clinical research, through the provision of advice and services for the set-up and management of investigator or SME led clinical studies in Europe. ECRIN unites national networks of clinical trial units across Europe, through its scientific partners, to fulfil its vision of generating scientific evidence to optimise medical practice.

 

The HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) is a collaborative initiative between a number of Irish and international higher education institutes and methodology centres.

HRB-TMRN serves to strengthen the methodology and reporting of trials in health and social care in Ireland. They provide guidance to individual researchers, to CRF/Cs and other research infrastructures and to organisations. HRM-TMRN also provides training and education programs with the aim of advancing trials methodology research, research and innovation and public engagement in Ireland.

Contact: [email protected]

Training Requirements