Farmaindustria, together with key stakeholders in the ecosystem, is promoting an online course that is open, flexible and practical

Primary care has enormous potential to expand clinical research through studies that reflect greater equity, diversity and representativeness, and to generate evidence that is more closely aligned with real-world clinical practice

The course, aimed at patients and healthcare professionals, features more than 40 lecturers and is the first to be launched jointly with all stakeholders in the research and primary care ecosystem, such as scientific societies, research networks, patient organisations, the regulatory agency, ethics committees and industry

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Spain has established itself as a European leader and one of the world’s leading countries in the conduct of clinical trials, which presents a significant opportunity to offer patients early access to innovative medicines once their efficacy and safety have been demonstrated during the research phases.

However, this potential is not reflected equally across all levels of care. The vast majority of studies are carried out in hospitals, whilst barely 8 per cent of trials take place in health centres – the patients’ point of entry into the healthcare system and where the majority of healthcare is provided.

Strengthening clinical research in primary care is therefore essential to provide patients with early access to innovative medicines, to improve the representativeness of studies in line with equity and diversity criteria, and to generate evidence that is more closely aligned with real-world clinical practice. It is with this aim in mind that the new Training Programme in Clinical Research in Primary Care (ICAP) has been launched. Farmaindustria is launching the programme this Tuesday in collaboration with all stakeholders in the research and primary care ecosystem, including scientific societies, research networks, patient organisations, the regulatory agency, ethics committees and industry.

The programme is aimed at patients and primary care professionals – both healthcare and non-healthcare staff – and is delivered entirely online, as an open-access course with a practical focus, to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to carry out research.

The training forms part of the roll-out of the ICAP Guide: Recommendations for Good Practice in Promoting Clinical Research in Primary Care, and provides an overview of the main scientific, regulatory, ethical and operational aspects of clinical trials, alongside content on new research models, such as decentralised clinical trials and the use of digital tools.

“Spain’s position as one of the world’s leading countries in clinical research is the result of the collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem. We now have the opportunity to take this a step further by involving primary care more actively and ensuring that its professionals have the necessary skills and tools to conduct research; this will undoubtedly help to retain and attract talent to this level of care, whilst also creating opportunities for patients,” says Amelia Martín Uranga, Director of Clinical and Translational Research at Farmaindustria.

The programme features more than 40 tutors – professionals with experience in clinical research and primary care – and is structured around a range of topics that cover everything from the basic concepts of a clinical trial to the key aspects required to participate in its launch and implementation from a healthcare centre. The regulatory, ethical and data protection frameworks, good clinical practice, and the potential of digital tools and decentralised models are among the other topics covered during the course. The training is now available online and can be undertaken free of charge and at the learner’s own pace.

Following the publication of the ICAP Guide in November 2023, several initiatives have been launched to promote clinical research in this area of healthcare, such as the Map and Observatory of Clinical Research in Primary Care, and the document on Document Management for the Initiation of Clinical Trials with Medicines in Primary Care. The training forms part of these initiatives promoted by a joint working group comprising all the organisations within the ecosystem. From the outset, this group recognised that the training was necessary to complement existing programmes, given its methodology and approach.