Clinical Trials

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are studies into new types of medical care, treatment or a combination of both. Clinical trials can be diverse and may explore the biological, psychological or financial effects of a new treatment or they may focus on the prevention or diagnosis of an illness.

The development of clinical trials in cancer care is extremely important as a way of exploring and deciding the most effective and efficient means of treating cancer. This is crucial in the light of the number of new drugs and treatments which are constantly being developed.

All research studies are ethically approved nationally and locally and are carried out according to the EU directive for medicinal products, NHS Research Governance and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

The Clinical Trials Team

The clinical trials team conducts and supports National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) approved studies and commercial studies in oncology and haematology. The team supports the consultants who are conducting the clinical trials at University Hospital.

The team consists of six research nurses and one research radiographer, supported by a data manager and secretary. The team ensures that people who are involved in research studies have the relevant information to be able to give their consent to entering a clinical trial and supports the patient during treatment and follow-up.

If you are eligible for a clinical trial the consultant will talk you through the study and the research team will discuss it with you in detail and provide support during the consent process. Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary and you can withdraw your consent at any time. This will not influence your medical care or future treatment that you may need.

The clinical trials team is situated in an office next to the day case chemotherapy unit (Ward 2) at the Royal Infirmary.