The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive has taken a number of steps to support clinicians in this area. It has funded two conferences within the past year to allow clinical researchers to discuss the new regulatory requirements with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, participated in a joint project between the Health Department in England and the Medical Research Council to develop a website of practical help to assist researchers with the new requirements (www.ct-toolkit.ac.uk) and is currently discussing with NHS research and development officials the possible investment of new funds to provide dedicated professional support in trials design and management.