The not-for-profit organisation European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) started International Clinical Trials Day (ICTD) in 2005, in support of its mission statement to facilitate multinational clinical research in Europe.
Each year, ICTD focuses on a contemporary theme in clinical research, while commemorating the anniversary of James Lind’s pioneering 1747 scurvy trial.
Advanced therapy clinical trials are at the forefront of modern medicine, exploring innovative treatments known as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), including gene therapies, cell therapies and tissue-engineered products designed to repair, regenerate or replace damaged tissues.
In 2026, ICTD features ATMPs and the complexities of conducting these cutting-edge, cross-border clinical trials (see below for more information on James Lind and image credits).
The ISRCTN Editorial Team support ICTD 2026
ISRCTN supports the goals of ICTD 2026 by promoting transparency in clinical research, particularly for complex, multinational trials, such as those involving ATMPs. By providing a publicly accessible, structured record of study protocols, locations and outcomes, ISRCTN enables researchers, regulators and the public to clearly understand how and where trials are conducted, which is essential for building trust across borders.
In this blog, Regenerate, repair and replace: advanced therapy clinical trials, Senior ISRCTN Editor Robin Packer presents a selection of ATMP studies registered on ISRCTN. As highlighted, a growing number of these studies are actively recruiting worldwide, reflecting both the rapid expansion of this field and its potential to reshape patient care.
ISRCTN Programme Manager, Amy Joint, has written a blog supporting the Trials Without Borders theme, discussing how most diseases affect populations across multiple countries. Yet, many clinical trials are still conducted within single nations, despite the clear scientific and ethical advantages of multinational research. The piece emphasises that cross-border trials can improve data quality, diversity and representativeness, while also acknowledging the regulatory, cultural and logistical challenges that must be overcome to make them successful.
Spotlight on BMC Medicine![]()
Motivated to encourage higher-quality submissions of trials and to increase transparency while reducing research waste, BMC Medicine has recently changed its editorial policies to consider only prospectively registered trials, whereas the journal previously also considered retrospectively registered trials.
Chief Editor Lin Lee presents a selection of BMC Medicine articles that illustrate the breadth and innovation in contemporary clinical research, from methodological advances to digital health interventions and novel therapies.
Included are efforts to strengthen trial design and trustworthiness, evaluate culturally tailored interventions for vulnerable populations, assess technology-enabled behavioural change, and test cutting-edge treatments such as immunotherapy combinations and brain stimulation techniques across diverse disease areas.
In this collection, you can read about clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers that are advancing the understanding of these malignancies, evaluating new therapeutic strategies, and improving patient outcomes.
The following blogs also support the rapid progress and expanding impact of advanced therapies across research and clinical practice. A Q&A by Dr Florence Bietrix, Section Editor at Journal of Translational Medicine, explores the journey from discovery to real-world application, a process that is essential for the complex development, testing and regulatory steps for ATMPs.
Further blogs raise awareness of stem cell science and its therapeutic potential, emphasise the role of genomics in improving equity for rare disease patients, and showcase cutting-edge innovations such as the use of generative artificial intelligence to design targeted treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
Another Behind the Paper post commissioned by ISRCTN for ICTD 2026 discusses the complexities involved in developing a dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) based approach to correct defects in two enzymes that result in the rare diseases, Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease.
A special Behind the handbook: Springer Handbook of Medical Biotechnology blog celebrates the creation of this handbook in response to the rapid growth of medical biotechnology, particularly the emergence of ATMPs, including gene and cell-based therapies, which are transforming modern medicine.
To support ICTD 2026, find further content, social media opportunities and the ICTD 2026 conference, 'Stronger Together: Advanced therapy clinical trials without borders ', co-hosted by ECRIN and CZECRIN in Prague, visit the ECRIN website.
James Lind
In 1747, naval surgeon James Lind conducted what is widely considered to be one of the first controlled clinical trials aboard HMS Salisbury, comparing treatments for scurvy in sailors. By systematically testing remedies in similar conditions, he demonstrated that citrus fruits, particularly oranges and lemons, were effective in preventing and treating the disease, laying the early foundations for modern clinical trial methods.
Image credits: James Lind. UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1957: A painting from a series made for schools on the history of the medical profession. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images).