In an endeavor to reflect the real significance of Patients First, its continuing theme for International Clinical Trials Day, the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) has announced a logo design contest exclusively for patients. The initiative is a creative way of integrating patients into the commemoration of an important day for the clinical research fraternity and to encourage deeper engagement with patients. Patients are invited to design a logo around the theme Patients First and the winning logo will be used in all communication and creative collateral for International Clinical Trials Day which falls on May 20th.

It was on this day in 1747 that Dr James Lind, a Scottish physician, conducted the world's first controlled clinical trial aboard a ship on sailors suffering from scurvy. And like those sailors 268 years ago, several hundreds of thousands of healthy volunteers and patients have since then contributed to the development of new treatments and drugs by participating in clinical trials. The last date for submission of entries is April 25th and more details about the contest are available at info@iscr.org

Ms Suneela Thatte, president, ISCR says, "Given the important role that patients plays in clinical research and our mission of enhancing patient outcomes through clinical research, we have decided to continue with Patients First as our theme for International Clinical Trials Day. Through this contest, we want to recognise patients but would also like to solicit their feedback on what clinical research means to them. The logo design contest is one way of incorporating the patient voice in all our communication and thanking them for their contribution to the advancement of medical science through their participation in clinical research."