University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is committed to being a research-active Trust and strives to offer as many of our patients as we can the opportunity to take part in research.
We check eligibility and invite patients to take part in relevant trials when they see us as an outpatient, inpatient or elsewhere.
Our patients can also volunteer to take part in research by speaking to our staff to find out if they are eligible for any open trials.
Thinking of taking part?
If you are thinking of taking part in one of our trials, we would recommend reading the guidance on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Be Part of Research website.
Useful questions to ask your clinician could include:
- what is the aim of the trial?
- how will the trial differ from my normal care?
- what treatment will I get if I don't take part in the trial?
- what are the possible side effects of my treatment?
- what extra tests or appointments will I have?
What trials are currently open?
Our team invites eligible patients to take part in research. A list of trials that are currently recruiting is available on the NIHR Be Part of Research website.
What does taking part mean?
Taking part doesn’t always mean being given a new drug. Other ways you can take part in research include:
- giving urine or blood samples
- completing a questionnaire
- speaking to a researcher about their treatment and experiences
Some trials may not directly benefit the people who take part in them. However, they can help improve our knowledge and understanding, which could also inform how patients can be best treated in the future.
Participant information sheet
If you are invited to take part in a trial, you will be given a participant information sheet that explains what taking part involves. A team member will also discuss what the trial involves with you to ensure you fully understand what taking part means, before you give consent to participate.
In most circumstances, you will have time to think about whether taking part would be right for you. Where possible, we would recommend you discuss taking part with a friend or relative.
The participant information sheet contains contact details of the trial Research team and any questions you have can be raised directly with them.
Consent
To take part in a clinical trial you must provide informed consent before any trial-related procedures can take place. This includes you reviewing the participant information sheet and agreeing to take part.
It is a good idea for you to find out as much as possible about the trial by asking the doctor or researcher running the trial lots of questions.
Confidentiality – how we use your information
The Research team will collect information from you as part of the clinical trial. Your information will be held by the Research team and any trial records or collected patient information will be kept confidential, in the same way as medical records.
You can leave the trial at any time and do not have to give a reason. If you leave the trial you will receive the standard treatment for your condition and your decision will not be held against you.
See the privacy notice for research page for full details on how we use information.
Last reviewed: 28 April 2021