Recruitment and Retention in Pediatric Clinical Trials: Focus on Pediatric Research Networks in the US and EU

Pediatric research networks improve the public health of children by ensuring the scientific and ethical implementation of pediatric trials. Some examples of pediatric research networks in the US include the Children's Oncology Group (COG), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Neonatal Research Network (NRN) and the NICHD Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). Some examples of dedicated pediatric research networks in the EU include the topic-specific National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN) UK, the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) and the Pediatric European Network for the treatment of AIDS (PENTA). This chapter briefly reviews the organization and structure, funding, and activities and operations of these networks and discusses the impact of a dedicated pediatric research network on the volume and quality of research with children, leading to improved care and health outcomes for children worldwide.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel Kelly Benjamin Jr. Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases