Patients in research
Ultimately, it is our patients who allow us to carry out our research:
- Patients take part in translational research within the context of clinical trials, including trials that are validating and qualifying predictive molecular biomarkers before they are utilised in clinical practice.
- Evaluating tissue samples provided by patients participating in clinical trials helps us develop the personalised treatments that our research is aimed at delivering.
- By giving written consent for the future use of their tissues donated for research, they enable us to make new discoveries that push boundaries for research, allowing us to further improve personalised treatment.
Benefits to patients
Being part of a clinical trial is increasingly becoming part of a patient’s cancer care. It is a route which can offer several benefits. For example, a patient may be told that future conventional treatment options are limited, but that being referred to the Drug Development Unit at Oak Ward and joining a targeted Phase 1 trial opens up a whole new set of treatment options.
Although the emphasis is often on testing drug safety rather than providing successful treatment outcomes, patients often speak about the positive effects of taking part in our trials.
Patient and carer research review panel
As part of our ongoing commitment to involve patients and carers in everything that we do, we are running a 12-month pilot of a patient and carer research review panel. We are currently looking for people to join the panel. Find out more.
We are also asking patients and carers to submit their recommendations on the research we should be doing. Send your suggestions now.