The article summarises aspects of clinical research in paediatrics stimulated and reinforced by COVID-19 that the conect4children group recommends regulators, sponsors, and investigators retain for the future, to enhance the efficiency, reduce the cost and burden of medicines and non-interventional studies, and deliver research-equity.
The group provides examples of research innovation, and follow this with recommendations to improve the efficiency of future trials, drawing on industry perspectives, regulatory considerations, infrastructure requirements and parent–patient–public involvement.
The article ends with a comment on progress made towards greater international harmonisation of paediatric research and how lessons learned from COVID-19 studies might assist in further improvements in this important area.
TEDDY Network was cited in the article as it highlights the importance of gathering all available forces together and continue the collaboration between industry sponsors, academia, regulatory bodies, patients and the public that can build on the momentum created to advance the development of more efficient paediatric studies.
‘We commend the conclusion that the involvement of Enpr-EMA with existing European paediatric networks and research organisations, such as Conect4children, European Reference Networks, European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI), European Network of Excellence for Paediatric Research (TEDDY) and other European reference networks, is an important area for prioritisation.’