About Clinical Trials

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are used to investigate new or existing treatments to see if they work, or which works the best to treat a particular disease or condition. This can help benefit patients with the same or similar conditions in the future.

More information on clinical trials can be found here at the NHS website. 

What are the differences between a clinical trial and routine care?

All participants in a clinical trial are assessed to ensure they are eligible to take part. These eligibility criteria make sure that the treatments under investigation are tested on a group of similar patients. It also helps exclude patients for whom the treatments may pose a risk. The eligibility criteria for NAIROS can be viewed here. 

Participants in clinical trials are given information on the trial, and given opportunities to ask questions. After this, patients who wish to continue sign a document, called a consent form, indicating they understand what will be required of them and giving their informed consent to take part in the trial.

During the trial, the medical team (including doctors and nurses) will monitor your progress, and you will receive medical tests specific to the clinical trial, in addition to those used in standard care. You may be asked to fill out questionnaires, and provide additional information about your wellbeing and how you think the treatment is working.  

Participants are free to stop their participation in the trial (withdraw) at any point. 

Benefits and risks of clinical trials

Clinical trials do have risks, potential benefits and potential drawbacks. Even if a treatment under investigation is of benefit to some participants, it may not work for you.

You should learn about the risks and benefits of any clinical trial before you agree to take part. More information about the benefits and risks specific to NAIROS can be found in the information sheet