The ISRCTN registry has launched a new streamlined registration form designed to reduce the administrative burden on researchers while still maintaining full compliance with WHO Trial Registration Data Set standards.
This updated form includes the 24 minimum required WHO data fields plus only two additional fields required by Be Part of Research, the NHS portal designed to help UK-based patients find suitable clinical studies, which the ISRCTN registry provides a direct feed into.
Researchers are prompted at the start of the registration process to confirm whether the study is recruiting only in the UK or more broadly and whether it is an interventional or observational study. Depending on the responses, fewer data items will be required to be completed for non-UK or observational studies.
This streamlined form ensures that only essential data are collected, and will make registration more straightforward while still aiding patient recruitment into studies.
The two data items which will continue to be collected for Be Part of Research are:
- A Plain English Summary (sometimes known as a Lay Summary or Plain Language Summary) of the study protocol
- Details of UK participating centres.
Both of these fields are essential to help patients identify suitable studies they can get involved with. Plain English Summaries are particularly important to help bridge the gap between technical research and public understanding, empowering patients, caregivers, and non-specialists to make informed decisions and feel connected to the research they support. Location details help patients discover studies taking place which are convenient to them.
In a landscape where openness and accessibility matter more than ever, this update reflects ISRCTN’s commitment to making transparency as easy as possible.
The BMC editorial team are delighted to have collaborated with ISRCTN's board of directors and the team at 67 Bricks to realise the concept of a more straightforward submission process by bringing this new form to life. We're looking forward to collaborating again on some upcoming projects in the near future!
If you are a researcher interested in registering your clinical study with ISRCTN, you can find out more about our streamlined submission process here.