The Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN)

The Vascular and Endovascular Research Network (VERN) was set up to promote research, to improve the treatment of vascular diseases and to improve the synthesis and dissemination of evidence. The network represents a particular form of collaboration involving trainee doctors and specialists from a wide variety of medical disciplines. It undertakes multicentre projects, which are mostly observational studies and the data collected are analysed and published in a short period of time. This form of research has several advantages including fostering collaboration between different institutes, countries and researchers with different levels of expertise. It also promotes accelerated delivery of evidence and individual professional development. The network has an executive committee that meets every 2 weeks to discuss projects and the entire committee meets every month. An appointed member of the executive committee coordinates the centres participating in projects. Although there has been some scepticism with respect to research collaboratives, raising concerns over the accountability and the contribution of authors, it is paramount that research conducted by a collaborative maintains the same scientific rigour and ethical standards as research conducted by individual academic units.