Clinical trials
Research @ EMHS
At EMHS, we do research to improve the way we treat and care for our patients and to find ways to prevent illness before it occurs is a key part of our vision of Healthy people, Amazing Care.
When you visit our hospital or services, you or your family member may be invited to participate in a research study or clinical trial.
Across our hospitals and services, we run many different types of research and may involve:
- Completing a survey or having an interview about your experiences
- Allowing researchers to access your health information to answer research questions
- Agreeing to have your clinical information included in a registry to help health services monitor the safety and usefulness of our treatments
- Providing samples such as blood or urine for testing as part of a research project or registry
- Participating in a clinical trial to test new medicines or medical devices.
Taking part in research in completely your choice. If you or your family member decide not to take part, it will not affect the care they or you receive. The best available care will always be provided.
Research can only happen with the help of patients, families and the wider community.
About Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies designed to find out if a new drug, medical device or diagnostic test is safe and works. They look at how people respond to the new treatment to find out:
If a new treatment works
How well people cope with it
What are the side effects?
What is the right dose?
New treatments, medications and medical devices are approved for use in standard care in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) but only after going through clinical trials to be sure they are safe and work as intended.
Some trials test brand new treatments to see if they work better than existing treatments. Others compare two or more existing treatments to decide once and for all which is best.
Either way, the goal is to find better ways to treat, manage, diagnose or prevent diseases.
At EMHS we run a wide range of clinical trials across many areas of medicine. You can see examples of recent and current clinical trials across our hospitals and services here.
More Information about Clinical Trials and Research
The sections below explain how research and clinical trials work and what being involved might look like.
But remember, the best way to find out more is to ask the doctors, nurses and other health professionals caring for you!
There are a few ways you might hear about a research project or clinical trial at EMHS:
- Your specialist mentions it during an appointment
- A member of our research team approaches you during your hospital visit
- You receive a letter or phone call because you have previously been treated at EMHS
- Your GP or specialist refers you to an EMHS clinical trial that may suit you
If you hear about a research project or clinical trial through the media or wider health service, your first step is to speak to your doctor or follow the contact information provided to reach out directly to the team running the project.
Clinical trials are a specific kind of research project designed to work out if a new drug, medical device or test is safe and effective.
There are different types of clinical trials, each with slightly different aims.
Some trials are designed for people with specific medical conditions, while others involve healthy volunteers. To participate in a clinical trial, you must meet specific ‘eligibility criteria’, known as ‘inclusion’ and ‘exclusion’ criteria.
Over the course of their treatment and often for a ‘follow-up’ period afterwards, the two groups are closely monitored to review the progress of their illness and to check for any side effects.
The information is then pooled and analysed to see which group has the better outcome, allowing for an objective assessment of the effectiveness and side effect profile of the new treatment.
If you are approached to join a research project or clinical trial, the most important things to know are:
- Taking part is completely your choice. You do not have to participate if you don’t want to.
- You will be given plenty of information about the study or trial, including how it fits with your overall treatment and care, so you can make an informed decision about taking part.
- Before you decide to take part in a clinical trial, it is important to discuss your options with your doctor, family or friends to ensure the trial is appropriate for you and your circumstances.
- If you decide not to take part, your care won’t be affected in any way - your doctor will talk through your other treatment options and you will be given the best available treatment.
- You can withdraw at any time without it affecting your care now or in the future.
If you agree to participate, you will then be enrolled in the trial and treated according to the trial ‘protocol’. You will be asked to attend trial visits and complete the necessary tests. All trials are different, some are short and finish while you are in hospital and others can take years, with a long follow up period often aligned with your regular hospital appointments. This will be explained and the level of commitment and time involved is an important factor to consider.
Clinical trials give people access to the latest treatments, before they are widely available. This can be especially valuable for people with rare or hard-to-treat conditions where treatment options may be limited.
Taking part can also offer other benefits:
- Access to leading specialists who are among the best in their field.
- Closer and more frequent monitoring of your health compared to those receiving standard treatment.
- A more active role in your own healthcare and treatment decisions.
- The chance to contribute to medical progress that could help future patients with your condition or illness.
It is worth knowing that not every new treatment turns out to be more effective than existing treatments. Even treatments that show positive results overall may not work the same way for every participant in a clinical trial.
Clinical trials in Australia go through a rigorous approval process before they can begin to make sure they meet national ethical standards, legal requirements, and are culturally appropriate for the communities involved.
Like any medical treatment, clinical trials do carry some level of risk. Before you agree to take part, all potential risks, side effects and unknowns will be clearly explained to you so you can make an informed decision. Key differences compared to standard care include:
Before any clinical trial can begin in Australia, it must be reviewed and approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
The HREC is a group of doctors, nurses, scientists and researchers, lawyers, ministers of religion and other community leaders and members of the public.
Their job is to make sure the research study or trial is safe, ethical, meets national and state legal requirements, and is culturally appropriate for the communities involved.
No clinical trial can go ahead until this broad and independent group of people are satisfied it is safe, ethical and the right thing to do. This is to protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of every participant.
To participate in a clinical trial, you must meet specific criteria. Most trials are designed for people with certain medical conditions who meet very specific health requirements. Being careful to include patients within these criteria ensures the results of the trial are valid. Sometimes a patient is keen to participate but is found to be ineligible after ‘screening’ tests show they don’t meet the required criteria. If this happens, you won’t be left without treatment or care. Your doctor will discuss alternative treatment options with you, including continuing your care. In summary: If you decide not to participate in a trial or are not eligible, you will continue to receive the best available medical care and treatment.
Every clinical trial at EMHS is led by a qualified and experienced doctor, known as the ‘Principal Investigator’, supported by a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals. This team is responsible for your care and safety throughout the trial. Many clinical trials are funded by pharmaceutical or medical device companies who design and sponsor the research. When EMHS agrees to host a trial, the sponsor covers all costs of running it. This means there is no cost to your as a participant, and no cost to the public health system.
There are a few ways to get in touch: EMHS Research Hub (08) 9224 2292 All information presented is of a broad nature. For specific information regarding research or a clinical trial, please contact your GP or specialist or health professional.
EMHS Research Hub
(08) 9224 2292
Level 2 (Ground Floor)
Kirkman House
10 Murray Street
PERTH WA 6000