About Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research investigations in which people volunteer to test new treatments, interventions or tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage various diseases or medical conditions. Some trials look at how people respond to a new treatment and what side effects might occur. This helps to determine if a new treatment works, if it is safe, and if it is better than the treatments that are already available.
Cancer Institute NSW has produced a number of resources regarding this topic – to find out more please visit – I have cancer… is a clinical trial an option for me? | Cancer Institute NSW
Clinical trials are essential to the development of new treatments. For example, without clinical trials, we cannot understand if a new medicine or test developed in a laboratory is effective or safe. Clinical trials can also help to improve health care services by raising standards of treatment. Doctors and hospital staff involved in clinical trials are highly trained to provide patients with best practice care. Australian clinical trials are recognised internationally for providing very high quality patient care.
By taking part in a clinical trial, you can contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and, in some cases, to improved health for yourself or others with the same disease or condition. If more people are involved in clinical trials, it may reduce the time it takes to make new interventions widely available.
At Calvary Mater Newcastle we have a large number of clinical trials including: Haematology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Clinical Toxicology and Mental Health and Palliative Care. The ClinTrial Refer clinical trials registry allows you to search for clinical trials currently being conducted at Calvary Mater Newcastle and Australian Clinical Trials provides information about access clinical trials across Australia.
- Ask your general practitioner (GP), specialist, nursing or allied health professional involved in your care. They should be able to provide general information about clinical trials and may have information on clinical trials that are relevant to you
- Consider your options carefully and understand what a clinical trial offers for your treatment
- Visit the ClinTrial Refer site help you understand the complexities of the trial, and to fully inform you for consent
More information about consumers in health care and an overview of clinical trials can be found by visiting the Consumer Health Forum