CSM's Randomised Controlled Trials Course: A Guide to Design, Conduct, Analysis, Interpretation and Reporting of RCTs

Monday, 7 September 2026 to Friday, 11 September 2026, 9am - 2pm

This annual course provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for evaluating healthcare interventions. You will learn from an interdisciplinary faculty of clinicians, statisticians, and trial managers, all with a wealth of RCT experience. The course uses a problem-based learning approach, including lectures and small-group practical sessions, and grounds all learning in practical experience and examples from the literature.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
    Clarify the fundamental principles and practice of RCTs
    Present the optimal methodology to use in RCTs
    Examine the critical issues involved in planning, conducting and completing a successful trial
    Provide a basic understanding of the statistics used to plan and analyse RCTs
    Teach critical appraisal skills and practice appraising RCT papers

COURSE Faculty Includes
    Dr Juul Achten, Research Manager, Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care, Kadoorie Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Prof Jonathan Cook, Professor of Clinical Trials and Medical Statistics and co-Interim Director of the Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Prof Richard Emsley, Professor of Medical Statistics and Trials Methodology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London
    Prof Sally Hopewell, Professor of Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis, Centre for Statistics in Medicine and Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Dr Marloes Franssen, Senior Trial Manager, Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care Group, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Dr Beth Fordham, Senior Research Fellow in Psychology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Prof Graeme MacLennan, Professor of Medical Statistics and Director of the Centre for Health Care Randomised Trials (CHaRT), Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen
    Dr Sofia Massa, Lead Statistician, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
    Dr Joanna Moschandreas, Senior Clinical Trial Medical Statistician, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford
    Prof Eric Ohuma, Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Centre for Maternal Adolescent Reproductive & Child Health, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    Dr Ines Rombach, Senior Research Fellow/ Statistician, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
If you are planning or actively involved in trials, or are interested in furthering your knowledge of trial methodology, this course is for you. It is ideal for those early in their career or those looking for a refresher course, as it provides an overview of all elements of an RCT. We welcome applications from clinical and non-clinical researchers and other professionals allied to medicine.

DETAILS
Date: Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September 2026. A typical day runs from 9am to 5:30pm, with a course dinner on the Thursday evening and a 2pm finish on the Friday after lunch.

Venue: The course will be held at Merton College, University of Oxford, a historic college located in Oxford's city centre.

Course fees: £1850, discounted to £1700 if payment is made by 17:00 (GMT+1) 30 April 2026. Fees must be paid in full before your place on the course is confirmed. Fees include daily lunch and refreshments, a course dinner (Thursday evening), and a comprehensive delegate’s pack including all course materials. Discounts are available for a limited number of NDORMS staff and students, if payment is made internally.

Accommodation: Bed and breakfast accommodation is available at Merton College for £137 per night (not included in course fees). Details for booking accommodation will be supplied with a place offer.

REGISTRATION
Registration is now open! Please contact rct.course@csm.ox.ac.uk for access to the application form.

Venue: Merton College - T.S. Eliot lecture theatre - T.S. Eliot lecture theatre Merton College Merton Street Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 4JD United Kingdom

Department: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (Department)

Host: Centre for Statisics in Medicine

Register here: https://www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/study/courses/randomised-controlled-trial-course