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Clinical trials are a scientific way to assess the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, devices and treatments. The scientists and medical researchers who perform these trials are restricted and governed by law with regard to how clinical trials are conducted. Extensive research is carried out in laboratories before new therapies are tested on people.

Talk to your specialist or consultant if you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial. They will be aware of the strict criteria set down for the trial, whether you are suitable to take part and where the trials are taking place, be it locally, nationally or internationally. Alternatively, you can look on the internet to find ‘active’ trials. There are some helpful websites on right hand side of this page.

The nature of the trial, including potential risks, will be discussed fully with you before you give your consent to participate. Although your consent is recorded in your notes, you are free to leave a trial at any time.

The trials are divided into ‘phases’:

Phase 1

This phase looks at:

• how much of a treatment can be given without causing adverse side effects;
• what side effects the treatment causes; and
• whether the treatment helps the condition.

Very few people, generally fewer than thirty, are required to take part in this phase of a trial.

Phase 2

This phase involves anything up to one hundred volunteers. Following on from the results of phase 1, the doctors will have identified the most serious side effects and will now look more closely at the strength of the treatments. Patients will be monitored closely to identify any changes to their condition. This may involve frequent assessments including blood tests, x-rays and or scans. 

Phase 3

This is a much larger trial, involving hundreds of people from several hospitals and often several countries. This phase is to identify if the treatments have been more effective than previous treatments. Side effects and quality of life are closely inspected. In this trial phase, some participants may take a placebo or be given an 'active' treatment.

People often consider taking part in a clinical trial if their conventional treatment has not been successful. This can be a very anxious time and it is natural to have high expectations of new treatments. However, please be aware that the purpose of the trial is to see if a new drug or therapy works. There are no guarantees that it will and in many cases it will not.