CZECRIN NETWORKS
CZECRIN is a distributed large research infrastructure operating as a network of universities and university hospitals covering the entire territory of the Czech Republic and linking Czech research capacities with international infrastructures by implementing scientific research projects.
ECRIN-ERIC NETWORK
CZECRIN is the Czech national node of the pan-European research infrastructure ECRIN-ERIC (European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network). CZECRIN is also the national coordinating unit (NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PARTNER), which provides facilities for the European Correspondents | ECRIN, who are the direct link to ECRIN-ERIC. This allows for an effective linking of clinically oriented research infrastructures in the Czech Republic associated in CZECRIN with the research and application sphere in Europe and successful participation in pan-European projects implemented by transnational consortia. Through CZECRIN, the Czech Republic is a member of ECRIN-ERIC and part of ESFRI Roadmap.
Partner institutions
NETWORK OF CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTRES
The CTU Network covers the entire territory of the Czech Republic, includes most universities and university hospitals and represents a network of contact and support units linking clinical workplaces with other networks and capacities of CZECRIN. The CTU Network is coordinated by CZECRIN’s partner – St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and is primarily involved in activities related to direct access to patients (trial subjects) – ensuring optimal recruitment of subjects into clinical trials. The CTU Network is involved in the specific activities of clinical trial projects implemented with the support of the CZECRIN VVI through the Clinical Research Coordinator, thus fulfilling the basic need for researchers in the Czech Republic. The CTU Network cooperates closely with DONets – which enables rapid and efficient transfer of innovations and successful implementation of projects in the clinical setting.
Member institutions
Disease oriented network
Discipline-based clinical research networks allow for the validation of new scientific and clinical knowledge and hypotheses generated by clinicians and scientists in clinical trials and thus the possibility of improving treatment outcomes for patients. These specialised networks focused on a specific diagnosis or area bring together experts and sites across the country and enable the efficient successful conduct of non-commercial clinical trials, including national and international projects. Networks associated with DONet share the support and expertise of CZECRIN and work closely with other networks. The collaboration between the DONet and the CTU/CTC or ECRIN-ERIC networks creates a powerful tool to enable close follow-up between clinical experts postulating scientific hypotheses and their subsequent clinical evaluation in clinical trials nationally and internationally. Priority areas with a dedicated network currently include personalized clinical trials in oncology, pediatric indications, orphan diseases, stroke patients, infectious diseases, and clinical trials of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). In the coming years, CZECRIN plans to strengthen cooperation in diseases such as cardiology, pneumology, haemato-oncology, perinatology, psychiatry and psychopharmacology or epileptology.
Phase I Units Network
Phase 1 of a clinical trial is the first phase when a newly developed drug is administered to a human. In particular, this phase assesses whether the drug is safe and what its pharmacokinetic parameters are. The primary objective of Phase I is not yet to verify efficacy. The aim is to demonstrate that the drug substance under development cannot fundamentally harm anyone. This evaluation is most often carried out in healthy volunteers and is an absolutely crucial phase for the continuation of clinical research. The evaluation takes place under strictly controlled conditions and in specialised units with full medical support. These units enable the conduct of early clinical trials in full compliance with all legislative requirements, meeting Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) and international standards.