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Clinical Research

If you are being treated in the NHS you may be asked to take part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies that involve patients or healthy people and are designed to test new treatments.

Clinical trials are important for discovering new treatments for diseases, as well as new ways to detect, diagnose, and reduce the chance of developing the disease. Clinical trials can show researchers what does and doesn’t work in humans that cannot be learned in the laboratory or in animals. Clinical trials also help doctors decide if the side effects of a new treatment are acceptable when weighed against the potential benefits.

Clinical trials aim to:

  • Find the best ways to prevent disease and reduce the number of people who become ill
  • Treat illness to improve survival or increase the number of people cured
  • Improve the quality of life for people living with illness, including reducing symptoms of disease or the side effects of other treatments, such as cancer chemotherapy
  • Diagnose diseases and health problems.

While clinical trials are important, the choice to participate in one is very personal and depends on your unique situation. You and your doctor need to weigh the benefits against the risks and decide what’s best for you, when presented with a clinical trial.