CANNOT BE BADGERED: a sorry tale from MASCOT

Clinical trials in children are few and far between so funding from NIHR for MASCOT, a large clinical trial comparing treatment options at in children whose asthma is uncontrolled on low dose inhaled corticosteroids, was welcome. However, what followed was a litany of frustrating delays due to an astonishing burden of bureaucracy, communication problems, governance issues and difficulties with recruitment (See page 457). As a result, the trial was not completed and over £1 million of public money was wasted. While this fiasco was rumbling on, the BADGER trial, starting about the same time, was successfully completed in the USA. What can be learnt from this disaster? It strikes us that there are three areas where immediate reform should be possible. First, a reliable and quick supply of placebo inhalers and tablets should be available for studies of this sort. Second, research staff should have direct access to patient …