Clinical Trials Unit

About us

Healthcare professional checking medical data on a tablet

Our mission is to generate clinical evidence that accelerates the adoption of effective health innovations – improving patient outcomes, supporting the NHS, and helping the East of England become a leading region for health technology development.

What is ARCTU?

The Anglia Ruskin Clinical Trials Unit (ARCTU) is a progressive clinical trials unit based in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care at ARU. It's the Clinical Pillar of ARU's Centre for Biomedicine and Health Innovation.

We are a research collaboration between ARU, local NHS Trusts and industry partners, with a special focus on effectiveness trials designed to enable the rapid adoption of novel treatments and technologies into the NHS.

Unlike many university-based CTUs, ARCTU operates at the intersection of clinical trials methodology and health technology innovation. We have particular expertise in medical device evaluation, digital health and AI assessment, and the design of studies intended to generate evidence for NHS adoption and commissioning decisions.

Meet the team

Why ARCTU?

Quality and governance

All ARCTU studies are conducted in accordance with ICH E6(R2) Good Clinical Practice and ISO 14155:2020 for medical device studies.

We maintain a Quality Management System including SOPs, audit programmes, training records and incident reporting.

Studies are subject to independent oversight by Trial Steering Committees and, where appropriate, Data Monitoring Committees.

Our relationship with the Biomedical Research and Innovation Centre

ARCTU is the Clinical Trials Unit embedded within ARU's Centre for Biomedicine and Health Innovation.

As Pillar 3 of the Centre, we provide the clinical trial infrastructure that translates discoveries from its basic and translational research pillars into clinical evidence. This integration means that companies and researchers working with us can draw on a unique combination of clinical trial methodology, active biomedical science programmes and NHS partnership infrastructure.

Our values