Information for research volunteers
Every day, thousands of people take part in research trials in the NHS, public health and social care to discover new medications, tests and ways to improve treatment. However, high-quality research is not possible without the involvement of participants. These volunteers can include patients who are already under the care of a doctor for a specific ailment, or healthy members of the public.
Research studies can involve anything from a simple questionnaire, to trialling a new medication/device for a specific illness.
If you are a patient being treated at MKUH, you may be invited to take part in a research study. However, this is entirely up to you if you wish to be involved or not. If you decide not to participate, this will not affect your standard treatment in any way. Additionally, if you decide to participate, and then change your mind and wish to withdraw from the study, you do not have to give a reason. You will then continue your standard care with your clinician.
If you would like to learn more, please contact the R&D team on 01908 995137 or by emailing [email protected].
Every study is different, therefore the requirements will vary between each one. There will be specific eligibility criteria which will need to be met, and this will be determined by a member of the clinical team involved in the specific study. Once the initial requirements have been assessed, potential participants may also be required to have a set of tests to check their suitability for the trial. This could be anything from answering questions, to having blood tests and scans performed.► How are patients selected?
At MKUH, if you are eligible for a research study which is open, your treating doctor will approach you and inform you of the study details. However, you can also visit Be Part of Research website to find trials which may be suitable for you (this can also be outside of MKUH). This website gives a clear understanding of what is involved if you participate in a research study, and lets you sign up to be contacted if a suitable trial for you becomes available.► Where do I find out more about clinical trials and who is recruiting?
Some of the trial listed on the Be Part of Research website will contain direct contact details or external websites with more information. If you see a study at MKUH, you can either talk to your clinical team at an upcoming appointment or contact the R&D team on 01908 995137 or email on [email protected].► What do I do if I think I might be suitable for a clinical trial?
Last Modified: 4:36pm 07/10/2024