Become a Volunteer
What is clinical research?
Clinical research is essential for:
- Prevention of diseases
- Diagnosis & development of tests
- Finding effective treatments
- Improving quality of life for people living with illness
Why is clinical research important?
The primary aims of clinical research are to:
- Provide the best advice and treatments for patients
- Increase understanding about the human body and mind in health and when living with illness
- Share knowledge and understanding
Taking part in clinical research at Biomedical Research Centre
If you are being treated at Nottingham University Hospitals you may be invited to take part in a clinical trial or research study. Whilst many of our trial participants have particular health condition, sometimes they can also be a ‘healthy volunteer’ (a healthy volunteer is someone who does not have the condition being studied, but provides the researcher with a healthy comparison to those who do)
To take part, first you must meet the ’eligibility criteria’. This helps researchers to select who can take part in a study and may include type of disease, your history, age, gender etc.
If you are interested, you can send us your details via the volunteer registration form below. We will also need your written consent before we can enroll you in a particular study.
Is it safe?
There are thousands of clinical research studies and trials in the UK each year, and a large number of people take part.
All clinical research undertaken at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH NHS Trust) or Nottingham University (UoN) is reviewed by:
- NHS Research Ethics Committee - The ethics committee is there to protect the dignity, rights and safety of participants. It is entirely independent.
- Reviewed and approved by the Sponsor - The sponsor is the individual, or organisation that takes on the responsibility for confirming there are proper arrangements to initiate, manage, monitor and finance the study.
- Research & Development (R&D) - R&D approval evaluates the impact of the project on the NHS Trust as host of the research and in relation to the NHS Trust duty of care to their patients.
Each study is designed to keep risk to a minimum. Participants in every study are monitored carefully throughout and safety and well-being comes first.
Will I get paid?
It depends on what you are doing. Participating in clinical studies and trials is usually voluntary; people often take part to help improve knowledge of certain conditions or to try and improve their own condition, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed
However, some studies or trials may offer a small payment. This would be discussed with you before participating.
Will my details be kept confidential?
All information collected about you will remain strictly confidential, and your details will remain anonymous.
What will happen to the results?
At the end of the trial, the results should be made available to all those who took part, if they want them. The results are usually presented to large medical meetings and published in medical journals to ensure others can use the results to improve health care. You will not be identified in any of the study results.
Thinking of taking part?
There will be questions you’ll want to ask the clinical researcher before deciding whether to take part , for example:
Q. If I decide not to take part in the study, will this decision affect my treatment in the NHS?
A. No. Even if you agree to take part in a clinical research study, you can always pull out at any time and this will not affect your treatment in the NHS. At the very beginning we will make sure you have clear information about what the study is for, how you will be treated and what you will be expected to do and any possible risks or benefits. This information will help you determine whether or not this clinical research study is right for you.
