The large clinical studies - Evidence-based medicine in German neurology

Clinic research and clinical trials in Germany have a high international reputation especially in neurology, despite a relatively low financial support. German centres and investigators are at international top level in the fields of Parkinsonism, dystonia, motor neuron disease, headache, multiple sclerosis, neurooncology and especially stroke. Three competence networks and two out of six clinical trials founded from the first,clinical trials" program have neurological themes. Important prerequisites for this success are the installation of clinical trial centres in neurological clinics and the formation of consortiums of such experienced centres. Nevertheless, there are more and more international competitors, especially in Eastern countries, India and China. Therefore such initiatives as the next program,,Clinical trials" supported by the German Research Foundation with 20 million is an element of per year can be just a first step to improve the situation for clinical trials in Germany.