19 Jun 2025

Insights from DIDACT Foundation Academy’s first cohort

“We were deeply impressed by the exceptional talent and dedication demonstrated by this inaugural group,” said Professor Charles Craddock CBE, Chair of Trustees at the DIDACT Foundation. “If these individuals represent the future of clinical trial leadership, then the outlook is indeed extremely promising.”

Just over a year and a half ago, a group of ambitious researchers came together with a shared goal: to learn how to navigate the clinical trial landscape and drive meaningful progress in blood cancer research. In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the demand for well-equipped trial leaders has never been more urgent. Experts repeatedly voiced that clinical trials are more important than ever in helping find effective treatments for difficult to treat blood cancers such as TP53 mutated AML.

The DIDACT Foundation Academy was created to meet that need — a hands-on, intensive programme designed to bridge the gap between academic and clinical knowledge and the realities of clinical trial leadership. Over two years, participants follow a rigorous curriculum that blends structured learning of trial design and planning, expert mentorship, and insights from across the research landscape.

“We’ve worked hard to make the DIDACT Foundation Academy more than just a series of lectures,” says Professor Mhairi Copland, Academy Lead at the DIDACT Foundation. “Our participants engage in genuine trial planning, are mentored by experienced investigators, and gain insights from academic clinicians, funders, trial managers and statisticians. It’s this real-world focus that sets us apart.”

Thanks to the support of Leukaemia UK, that vision is already being realised. As the first cohort wraps up, the Academy’s impact is clear — and we spoke to two of its participants who are now preparing to launch trials of their own, Dr Mili Naresh Shah and Dr Jennifer Vidler, both from King’s College Hospital, to hear about their journey.

For Dr Mili Shah, an early career consultant specialising in AML and stem cell transplantation, the motivation to join DIDACT Foundation Academy was clear: a desire to improve patient outcomes through clinical research. Alongside her day-to-day work, Dr Shah says that she is keen to, “expand to be involved in clinical research to improve outcomes for my patients,”, highlighting her ambition to one day design and lead her own clinical studies as a chief investigator. DIDACT Foundation Academy, she says, “enabled us to gain wisdom, guidance, and experience from a group of mentors.”

Dr Mili Naresh Shah

Similarly, Dr Jennifer Vidler arrived at DIDACT Foundation Academy with practical experience recruiting and caring for patients on trials during her training. However, as she approaches consultant status, she felt a strong pull to deepen her understanding of the intricate mechanics of trial design, setup, and effective delivery. Both doctors recognised that formal training was essential to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research leadership.

When asked about the most valuable lessons from the Academy, both researchers emphasised the profound impact of mentorship and collaboration. Dr Shah speaks passionately about the “wisdom, guidance, and experience from a group of mentors” – not just leaders in their fields, but individuals who have navigated the very career stages the participants are now tackling. This engagement has sparked crucial collaborations, extending not only across the UK but also internationally, enriching their daily practice with shared insights on complex medical cases.

Dr Jennifer Vidler

Dr Vidler wholeheartedly echoes this sentiment, highlighting the “incredible network of fellow delegates, mentors, and faculty” as her greatest takeaway. For her, the “networking, teamwork, and sharing of ideas” have been a true highlight, directly fuelling the ongoing development of her own clinical trial. This collective support has translated into a significant boost in her confidence, empowering her to “develop and deliver high-quality, impactful trials for blood cancer patients.”

Putting learning into practice:

Both doctors are now meticulously preparing to launch a joint clinical trial focused on a particularly aggressive and challenging form of leukaemia: acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with a TP53 mutation. As Dr Shah points out, despite significant advancements in AML treatment, this specific patient group faces “a dismal prognosis despite best available care”.

Their innovative trial aims to improve survival rates by manipulating the immune system after a transplant. They plan to introduce ‘donor lymphocyte infusions’ (DLI) – a type of white blood cell collected from the donor – much earlier than is typically done. Traditionally, DLI is administered only if the disease relapses or donor cells decline. By giving these infusions upfront, at carefully timed and safe intervals, the team hopes to significantly boost the anti-leukaemic effect of the stem cell transplant.

Beyond this, Dr Vidler explains to us how their ambition extends to a cutting-edge scientific project. They plan to conduct a blinded companion observational study to assess ‘minimal residual disease’ (MRD) using a highly sensitive method called digital-droplet PCR. This will allow them to detect the presence of leukaemia at a far lower level than current practice allows, both before and after transplant and DLI.

The journey from a promising idea to a real-world clinical trial is full of challenges, but both researchers credit DIDACT Foundation Academy with providing the essential tools and connections. For Dr Shah, the Academy was “the initial step to proposing a clinical study idea and pitching it to colleagues and experts.” She highlights the invaluable encouragement from mentors, particularly Professor Charlie Craddock, “who subsequently helped form collaborations with leading clinicians and researchers across the world.”

Dr Vidler reinforces this, explaining how DIDACT Foundation Academy “brought us together to share our ideas and gave us access to experts to help us with aspects we were less familiar with, such as statistics and trial design.” The programme actively encouraged exploring industry contacts for scientific assay development, leading to a crucial collaboration with Bio-Rad. Dr Vidler added, “Leukaemia UK has also supported us in engaging patients for our patient and public involvement meetings,” helping to ensure that the patient voice is meaningfully integrated into the trial design.

The experiences of Dr Shah and Dr Vidler exemplify the power of the DIDACT Foundation Academy. It’s not just about education; it’s about empowering a new generation to tackle the toughest challenges in blood cancer, driven by expert mentorship, collaborative spirit, and the support and funding from Leukaemia UK.

What’s Next?

Applications for the next DIDACT Foundation Academy cohort open later this year, and the team is already looking ahead to welcoming a new wave of aspiring clinical trial leaders. “We’re building on the strengths of the first programme,” explains Professor Mhairi Copland. While the core mission remains unchanged, the programme is evolving with a “stronger focus on early-phase trial designs and regulatory pathways this time. The very successful Dragon’s Den event will remain a central pillar, and we’re also exploring new ways to support participants after the formal teaching ends.”

With these enhancements, the Academy aims to be even more impactful — equipping future leaders with the tools, confidence, and connections they need to shape the future of haematology trials.