International Clinical Trials Day 2026

20 May 2026 - Every year on 20 May, we mark International Clinical Trials Day: the anniversary of James Lind's 1747 scurvy study, widely recognised as the world's first controlled clinical trial.

Researchers working across King’s are continuing this legacy , driving forward medical innovations and providing better care for everyone. Over the past year at the Trust, 245 research studies began, and over 33,000 patients gave up their time to take part in a research study, to help find better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.

One research trial currently underway is the BOPPP trial, one of the biggest liver trials in the UK, aiming to improve treatment for people with cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver from working properly and causes pressure changes inside the abdomen. 60,000 patients are living with this disease and about 11,000 people every year will die because of it.

The BOPPP trial, sponsored by King’s, is currently investigating whether blood pressure medication could prevent complications of liver cirrhosis. Funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the trial has completed recruitment of over 760 patients from over 55 hospitals around the UK, and is due to report its findings in 2027.

Dr Vishal Patel, Consultant Hepatologist and Co-Chief Investigator of the BOPPP trial, said: “The BOPPP trial, which represents a national effort to improve outcomes for people with cirrhosis, is vital in understanding whether a commonly used medication can serve as an effective preventative treatment in this condition.”

Dr Mark McPhail, Consultant Liver Intensivist and Co-Chief Investigator of the BOPPP trial, added: “If successful, we hope that this approach could offer a new way to prevent complications that occur in people with cirrhosis, bringing hope to them with better outcomes.”