title: The development, evolution and philosophy of a clinical research unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development,evolution and philosophy of a clinical research unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 20-year history of clinical psychiatric research in Christchurch is described. The variety of influences which have impacted upon the studies undertaken is acknowledged,as are the personal histories of key staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical research is potentially endangered. The maintenance and development of clinical research requires a mix of individual inquisitiveness and determination,local opportunity and political will. Despite a political desire for evidence-based medicine; most political policies and practices impede the development of new knowledge and the collection of new evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, New Zealand. peter.joyce@chmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Joyce
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011570:Psychiatry