Rachel recently attended Greening Clinical Trials: Opportunities, Challenges and Open Questions, hosted by the Ethox Centre at the University of Oxford. Presentations explored practical approaches to reducing the environmental impact of research, including sustainable laboratory practices (such as LEAF), digital technologies, and reducing unnecessary travel. The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of balancing sustainability with participant safety and scientific quality but also integrating these sustainable practices at the early design stage.

The speakers from the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition highlighted resources being developed to help organisations measure and reduce the environmental impact of clinical trials, including the clinical trials carbon calculator. The calculator can be used to compare different trial scenarios and identify hot spots, such as patient travel and sampling, that could be targeted to reduce the carbon footprint of a trial.