What is a Clinical Trial?
A plain English guide to clinical trials - what they are, why they matter, and how they work in the UK.
8 min read
The simple answer
A clinical trial is a research study that involves real people. Researchers use clinical trials to find out whether a new treatment is safe and whether it works. They might be testing a new drug, a new medical device, a new way of doing surgery, or even a new approach to helping people live healthier lives.
Think of it this way: before any new medicine reaches the shelves of your local pharmacy, it has to prove itself in a clinical trial. Every medicine you have ever taken - paracetamol, antibiotics, asthma inhalers - only exists because volunteers took part in trials.
Why clinical trials matter
Clinical trials are how we make medicine better. Without them:
- We would not have treatments for cancer, heart disease, or diabetes
- We could not know if a new treatment is actually better than the old one
- Doctors would have to guess instead of relying on evidence
Clinical trials in the UK
The UK is a world leader in clinical research. Here are the key organisations involved:
NHS
The National Health Service runs thousands of trials across hospitals and GP surgeries.
NIHR
The National Institute for Health Research funds and supports health research across England.
MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves and monitors all clinical trials.
NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence decides which treatments the NHS should offer.
Did you know?
- •Over 1,000 clinical trials are running in the UK at any given time✓ NIHR
- •82% of the UK public would consider taking part in a trial if asked✓ NIHR
- •The UK's RECOVERY trial saved over a million lives worldwide✓ University of Oxford
Types of clinical trials
Who runs clinical trials?
Pharmaceutical companies
Large companies like AstraZeneca and GSK run trials to develop new medicines.
Universities
Academic researchers run trials to answer important medical questions.
NHS hospitals
Doctors and nurses in your local hospital may run trials as part of your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
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