3CTN launches user newsletter

The Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN) has recently launched a new communication initiative for its EDGE user community: the EDGE Essentials newsletter.

Published every two months, the newsletter is designed to strengthen communication, showcase EDGE’s features, and increase awareness of its functionality, to optimise usage and encourage greater adoption across Canada. Each edition highlights key features, explains how they can benefit users, and includes a practical Tip of the Month to help users get even more out of EDGE.

The reason behind the initiative:

We asked Lead Administrators Rebecca Xu and James Schoales what the reason was for launching EDGE Essentials. They responded:

“With EDGE releasing updates, we wanted to make sure users were aware of the new functionalities and how they can be used. Additionally, we wanted to increase awareness of already existing functionality to encourage full usage of EDGE.”

How it’s going:

Rebecca and James informed us that their EDGE Essentials newsletter is already proving to be a highly effective engagement channel, achieving strong open rates and expanding  reach well beyond Lead Administrators. EDGE Essentials has driven increased participation across the broader community, with many new users signing up for EDGE drop-in sessions and joining working groups.

With strong aims of increasing awareness of existing functionality, being able to highlight important updates, answer frequently asked questions as well as being able to reach users beyond Lead Administrators, we are incredibly proud of 3CTN’s new venture and wish them every success with it.

Feeling inspired? Take a cue from 3CTN and consider launching a newsletter for your own end users to keep them informed, engaged, and confident in using EDGE. Let us know if you roll this out at your organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Raisa Chowdhury - Project Lead, James Schoales - Portfolio Data Analyst and Rebecca Xu - Manager, Portfolio & Informatics

EDGE returns to the UKCRF

Stevie Barre, Programme Manager, and Roberto Aguiar, Technical Business Support Manager, will be attending the Annual UKCRF Conference at the Business School, Trinity College, Dublin, on 9–10 July.

This year marks Stevie's second UKCRF Conference, and he is looking forward to returning alongside his colleague Roberto to connect with clinical research professionals from across the UK and Ireland. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for the EDGE team to engage directly with the people who use the platform every day, strengthening relationships, sharing knowledge, and gathering insights that help shape the future of EDGE.

Speaking ahead of the event, Stevie highlighted why the conference is such an important date in the calendar:

"The UKCRF Conference enables us to meet with many delivery teams predominantly working clinically who are, in many respects, the real EDGE front line. It gives us the opportunity to hear first-hand about the challenges they face, gather valuable feedback, explore new ideas, and better understand how EDGE can continue to support their work. It's also a fantastic chance for attendees to meet members of the EDGE team, ask questions, share experiences, and for us to strengthen the relationships we have with our clients."

The UKCRF Conference is recognised as one of the leading events for the clinical research community, bringing together professionals from across research delivery, academia, and the NHS to discuss innovation, collaboration, and best practice. For the EDGE team, it is an invaluable opportunity to listen to users, showcase the latest developments, and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving needs of research teams.

If you're attending the conference, be sure to stop by the EDGE stand to meet Stevie and Roberto. Whether you have questions about the platform, would like to discuss your experience with EDGE, or simply want to say hello, they'd be delighted to meet you.

To find out more about the conference, visit the UKCRF website here.

Stevie Barre & Roberto Aguiar, EDGE

EDGE Development - Nicky Morris, EDGE Product Manager

Bringing new features to EDGE

Over the last month, we delivered our second release of the year. This was a significant release with a number of new features and enhancements. I thought this would be a good opportunity to share a little about how we build releases, explain our development process, and highlight how users can get involved.

How we develop EDGE

The EDGE team works using an agile development approach. This means we deliver regular improvements and enhancements through small iterations, focusing on collaboration, continuous feedback and incremental delivery, allowing functionality to grow and evolve over time. We follow a user-centred design approach to the build, involving users throughout the discovery, and design phases to ensure new functionality addresses real-world needs.

Our development backlog is shaped by several sources. Over the last month, we have been working on onboarding new Trusts, implementing recommendations from internal reviews and external penetration testing, and delivering improvements based on user feedback and discussions.

New 'My Saved Searches' functionality 

One recent example is the new 'My Saved Searches' functionality. We are beginning a programme of work focused on helping users stay informed about new studies in EDGE that may be relevant to them. Saved Searches is the first step in that journey, allowing users to save search criteria and receive notifications when new studies matching those criteria are added.

This is a good example of our agile approach to development. Our broader goal is to support users throughout the entire study engagement process - from discovering relevant studies through to recording expressions of interest and assessing feasibility. Rather than delivering everything at once, we are starting with the first step: helping users find studies more effectively. Future developments will build on this foundation.

Help shape the future of EDGE development

To support this process, we are looking at creating a dedicated space within our community forum where the EDGE team and the community can discuss ideas and help shape future development of the EDGE service. We encourage anyone interested in influencing the direction of the platform to get involved. More information will be shared in an upcoming user newsletter. If your an EDGE user and wish to subscribe, email us here.

Nicky Morris, EDGE

Refreshed, Inspired, and Connected: Reflecting on RDF26 in Birmingham

Two weeks ago, the EDGE team headed to Birmingham to exhibit at the annual Research and Development Forum (RDF26). It was an incredible few days of networking, learning, and celebrating innovation. From busy catch-ups at Stand C9 over coffee to inspiring presentations, the energy of the health and care research community was unmatched.

For Jen, Ben, Stevie, Andy, and Roberto, the highlights were the face-to-face conversations. It was wonderful to reconnect with familiar faces and forge new connections. Hearing about the recent milestones and future research goals of the EDGE community reminded us why digital innovation matters. The discussions around streamlining clinical trials showed a collective drive to push the boundaries of healthcare research.

Jen Peach, Ben Grace, Stevie Barre, Andy Bush and Roberto Aguiar, EDGE

The event also provided a platform to celebrate the brilliant ways our community leverages EDGE to solve real-world R&D challenges. Finance and efficiency emerged as major themes throughout the sessions.

During the lunchtime presentations, Thomas Jenkins and Nick Allison from the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust took to the stage. They demonstrated how they are automating invoice splitting and error-checking for commercial income using the iCT tool alongside EDGE. Their work is a brilliant example of how smart data usage can slash administrative burdens, representing a massive win for NHS financial accuracy and efficiency.

R&D Forum 2026

The celebrations continued in the poster exhibition. We were absolutely chuffed to see Donna Foster, Research Governance and Data Manager at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT), awarded a prestigious Top 10 poster!

Her presentation, "Driving growth through EDGE finance at PAHT," perfectly illustrated the power of moving away from fragmented, spreadsheet-based financial tracking. By centralising their processes using EDGE and the Interactive Cost Template (iCT), Donna’s team achieved phenomenal results:

• 170% Revenue Growth: Generated research income skyrocketed between FY 2022/23 and FY 2025/26.

• Vast Financial Visibility: EDGE flagged over £24,000 in due funds on just one initial commercial trial, compared to the £6,000 originally advised by the sponsor.

• Proactive Invoicing: PAHT shifted from reactive tracking to proactive, deadline-driven invoicing to ensure full cost recovery.

Donna’s recognition is a testament to the hard work of the PAHT team, proving that reducing administrative tasks allows for maximum reinvestment into clinical research.

Donna Foster, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Looking Ahead

We left Birmingham feeling incredibly inspired by the passion of the R&D community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by Stand C9, shared their expertise, or cheered on their colleagues. We are already looking forward to helping you bring your future research visions to life.

CIRU's success in ISO 27001 Certification

CIRU’s success in ISO 27001

certification

We are thrilled to share that our department, The Clinical Informatics Research Unit have been successful in achieving certification to an international information security management system (ISMS) standard called Information Security Management System (ISO 27001). The standard provides a framework for organisations to manage their information security and protect their data. Achieving ISO 27001 builds trust with our clients and demonstrates the Unit’s commitment in securing confidential information. The certification has been recognised by BSI – information on this company found further below.

The certification was achieved in March 2025 following an in-depth audit process and 18 months of hard work from our small team here at CIRU. The lack of critical, major, or minor findings clearly demonstrates the quality and dedication of the department.

Following this great achievement we spoke to Professor James Batchelor, CIRU Director / Associate Dean International Research & Enterprise, Faculty of Medicine, who said the following:  

“The ISO 27001 certification is a testament to the dedication, meticulous planning, and collaboration of the CIRU team. From thorough risk assessments to implementing strong security controls and producing key documentation, the team has shown exceptional professionalism and commitment to excellence. I’m truly grateful for the team’s hard work in reaching this milestone. This achievement reflects our collective expertise and dedication to maintaining the highest standards of information security at CIRU.”

About CIRU:

CIRU has over 25 years of experience in providing clinical research solutions and services across the globe, advancing data excellence, quality, management, and improving research conduct. The University department of no more than 35 employees works with organisations across 7 continents including Europe, North America, South America, Australasia, Asia, and Africa. Achieving ISO 27001 strengthens CIRU’s reputation in both data security and patient safety, not only to their clients but to their partners, stakeholders, and to the public.

David Mudd, Global Head of Digital Trust Assurance at BSI, remarks:

“The global digital landscape means core research practices are increasingly cloud-based and digitally reliant, and it is essential for organizations like CIRU to remain vigilant against cyber threats, particularly in the realm of healthcare and clinical research. Achieving certification highlights CIRU’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring the integrity of clinical research, and adhering to global best practices in establishing digital trust. CIRU should be commended for its proactive approach to managing information security, supporting regulatory compliance, and strengthening resilience for the future of clinical informatics research.”

About BSI:

Since 1901, BSI has been creating an enduring legacy of transformation for the benefit of all. Across all divisions and services, BSI delivers on its purpose by helping its clients to fulfil theirs. For over a century, BSI has driven best practice in organizations around the world and support a 13,000-strong global community of experts. With our extensive expertise in standards, Assurance, Regulatory, and Consulting services, we can support you to enhance your performance, achieve sustainable growth, manage risks, and be a partner in progress.

For more information contact ciru@soton.ac.uk