If you are interested in participating in medical research in Glasgow, taking part in a clinical trial at Intelligent Clinical may be an option for you. Clinical trials are research studies that test new drugs, medical devices, vaccines, diagnostic tests, or treatments on human participants to determine their safety, effectiveness, and potential benefits. In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about clinical trials in Glasgow, including the different types, purposes, benefits, and risks, as well as how to find clinical trials, eligibility criteria, informed consent, and what to expect during a trial. We will also cover the regulations governing clinical trials in the UK and the future of clinical trials.

Types of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are conducted in several phases, with each phase serving a specific purpose. The four main types of clinical trials are:

Phase 1 Trials: These trials test the safety, side effects and best dose of a new treatment on a small group of people, usually healthy male volunteers.

Phase 2 Trials: These trials also assess safety, in addition to testing the effectiveness of a new treatment on a larger group of people who have the condition of interest.

Phase 3 Trials: These trials involve a large group of people and compare the new treatment to existing treatments in terms of safety and effectiveness.

Phase 4 Trials: These trials monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of a treatment after it has been approved for use.

Purpose of Clinical Trials

The purpose of clinical trials is to determine whether a new treatment is safe, effective, and better than existing treatments. Clinical trials also provide valuable information about the optimal dosage, side effects, and potential interactions of a treatment. By participating in clinical trials, you can help advance medical research and potentially improve healthcare outcomes for others.

Benefits and Risks of Participating in Clinical Trials

Participating in a clinical trial may provide several benefits, including access to new treatments, close medical supervision, and the opportunity to contribute to medical research. However, there are also risks involved, including the possibility of side effects and the potential for the treatment to be ineffective. Before deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial, you will be fully informed of the potential risks and benefits.

Eligibility for Clinical Trials

Each clinical trial has specific eligibility criteria that participants must meet. These criteria may include age, gender, medical history, and current health status. At Intelligent Clinical the study doctor will assess that you meet the eligibility criteria before you take part in the study.

Informed Consent

Before participating in a clinical trial, participants must provide informed consent. This means that you fully understand the purpose of the trial, the potential risks and benefits, your rights as a participant, and have been given adequate time to consider this information. Informed consent is a crucial component of ethical medical research.

What to Expect During a Clinical Trial

During a clinical trial, you may be asked to undergo various medical tests and procedures. These tests and procedures are designed to help the researchers understand how the treatment is affecting your body. Some common tests and procedures include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Physical examinations
• ECGs (electrocardiograms)
• Biopsies (taking a small sample of tissue for analysis)

If the trial is testing a new drug, participants may be given the drug in different forms, such as a tablet or injection. Participants in a clinical trial may receive the new treatment being tested or a placebo. A placebo is a substance that looks like the treatment being tested but does not contain any active ingredients. Placebos are used in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of a new treatment.

If the trial is testing a medical device, participants may have blood samples taken to test the device, be fitted with the device, or undergo a surgical procedure to implant the device.

Follow-up appointments

Participants in a clinical trial will have regular follow-up appointments with our study team. These appointments are designed to monitor your health and track the progress of the treatment. During these appointments, participants may undergo additional medical tests and procedures.

Why you might want to take part in a clinical trial or project

There are several reasons you may wish to volunteer for research and take part in a clinical trial. If you have a health condition and feel that there are limited options available for managing your symptoms, taking part in a clinical trial could help researchers to develop new treatments. You may not directly benefit from these, but it may benefit others with your condition in the future.

• Additionally, if you have a family member or friend with a health condition, you may understand the impact it can have on their life and see the importance of advancing medical research to find new ways of helping them.

• Taking part in a clinical trial can also provide an opportunity to learn more about your condition and the latest research around it.

• Your health is closely monitored as part of a clinical trial, and you may benefit from having regular health checks.

• Finally, you may simply want to play your part in supporting research and finding new advancements in medicine.

Whatever your reason, we will support and guide you through every part of the research study, ensuring that you receive the monitoring and care that is important to both you and our team.

Regulations Governing Clinical Trials in the UK

At Intelligent Clinical, we pride ourselves on staying up to date with the regulations that govern clinical trials in the UK. These regulations are in place to ensure that all participants are treated ethically and safely. Among the regulations we adhere to are the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004, the Data Protection Act 1998, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. By following these guidelines, we can uphold our responsibilities as researchers, maintain ethical considerations for participants, and comply with legal requirements for any trial or project we undertake. In addition to staying up to date with regulations, we also hold ourselves to the highest standards of quality management. As evidence of our commitment to quality, we are BSI ISO 9001 (2015) accredited and undergo annual audits on our work processes. Maintaining this certification requires consistent effort and dedication. By adhering to these strict quality standards, our clients and participants can trust that they will always receive the best service and care when choosing to work with Intelligent Clinical.

Future of Clinical Trials in Glasgow

As a leading clinical trial company in Glasgow, Intelligent Clinical are committed to driving innovation and advancing medical research. Our volunteers are critical to the process of approving new diagnostic tests and treatments for diseases, and our medical team are excited to be at the forefront of this important work.

Looking ahead, we anticipate that clinical trials will continue to play a vital role in the development of new tests and treatments, particularly in the areas of precision medicine and personalised healthcare. We are committed to investing in the latest technologies and research methods to ensure that we can deliver the best possible results for all involved.

Clinical trials are a critical component of medical research, and they offer an opportunity for patients to contribute to the development of new therapies and tests. At Intelligent Clinical, we are committed to conducting safe, ethical, and efficient trials that deliver meaningful results. We conduct research over a wide range of therapeutic areas including migraine, diabetes, skin conditions and cancer.

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial in Glasgow, you can check out what trials and projects we currently have here or alternatively sign up to our database and we will get in touch with you if we think there are any projects you can help us with!