Pediatric Clinical Research Networks: Role in Accelerating Development of Therapeutics in Children

BACKGROUND: Recent decades have seen many advances in policy and legislation that support the development of drugs used by neonates, infants, children, and young people. This review summarizes the characteristics and performance of networks capable of conducting studies needed to meet regulatory requirements and make advances in pediatric drug development. METHODS: Description of network goals and capabilities by network leaders. RESULTS: In the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada, clinical research networks have been organized to meet the needs of biopharmaceutical and academic sponsors for timely access to high-quality sites, as well as to provide advice about drug development with regard to strategic and operational feasibility. Each network addresses the specificities of its context while working toward shared principles including standards and timelines; alignment of goals and processes, while not disturbing arrangements for conducting trials that work well; wide geographic coverage; all age groups and pediatric conditions; sources of funding; sites that compete on performance; performance monitoring for benchmarking, and opportunities to optimize the allocation of resources; and education and training for network members. Facilitation in interactions among these networks is based on a single point-of-contact for each; similar approaches to strategic and operational feasibility assessment, and site selection; and collaborative approaches to education and training. CONCLUSION: Within five years, clinical research networks will support the needs of biopharmaceutical and publicly funded pediatric drug development through locally appropriate and globally interoperable approaches.