Taking part in clinical research

We have a wide range of clinical research studies open at the Trust, and these may be suitable for service users, carers, volunteers or staff. The studies may be questionnaires/surveys, attending an interview, taking part in a new therapy or being involved in focus groups, or taking part in interventional research where a new medication may be being trialled .

Take a look at our ‘open research studies’ which will provide you with more information on the open clinical research studies that we have and that you may be able to register your interest in.

If you would like to know more about a particular research study, or you think you would be suitable to take part, please contact the clinical research unit team on: researchdevelopment@swlstg.nhs.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is research?

All NHS organisations are expected to participate and support health and care research. Health and care research may be exploring prevention, diagnosis or treatment of disease, which includes health and social factors in any disease area.

Research may be sponsored by companies developing new medicines or medical devices, NHS organisations, universities or medical research charities. The research sponsor decides what information will be collected for the study and how it will be used. Research helps us to understand, manage and prevent illnesses and gives us a way to develop information related to health and social care and treatments, such as:

developing new medicines and treatments
improving quality of life
improving understanding of illnesses and social care needs
understanding what support is needed
managing and preventing illness

What taking part may involve?

Service users and/or carers might be asked to participate in a research study. These studies could have differing levels of participation which could include:

filling in a questionnaire or survey
trialling new medications
having bloods or saliva samples taken
trying out new psychological interventions
taking part in interviews or focus groups
taking part in research also usually includes some collection of your personal information.
having imaging taken such as a CT scan or MRI

If you are interested to take part in particular research study you will be provided with a research study participant information sheet which will give you more information on what the study is and what it will involve to take part. You can then discuss this with family, friends or carers if you wish. If you decide that you would like to take part you will be provided with a consent form that you will need to sign before you take part in the study, or any personal information is collected.

If you would like to take part in any research at the Trust, please take a look at our ‘open research studies’ which will provide you with more information on the research studies that we have open.

How will my data be kept safe?

All NHS organisations are expected to participate and support health and care research. The Health Research Authority (HRA) set standards for NHS organisations to make sure they protect your privacy and comply with the law when they are involved in research. The research ethics committees review research studies to make sure that the research uses of data about you are in the public interest, and meet ethical standards.

Use of Data in Research: t o find out more about how your personal data may be used in research please see the following link: Patient information and health and care research - Health Research Authority (hra.nhs.uk)

Privacy Notice: t o find out how South West London and St George’s are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected please see the following link: Patient information and health and care research - Health Research Authority (hra.nhs.uk)

Opting out of research: if you are not currently taking part in a research study, but you decide that you would like to opt out of being contacted about research you can do this by:

Registering to opt-out on the national data opt-out website: National data opt-out - NHS Digital
Contact the SWSLTG Data Protection Officer: Louis.lau@swlstg.nhs.uk or ResearchDevelopment@swlstg.nhs.uk

What if I no longer want to take part?

If you have decided to take part in a study, but have changed your mind and no longer wish to participate - you can withdraw.

Upon expression of interest, you will be provided with a participant information sheet, where you will be informed of all aspects of the study concerned with you participation. This will include instructions on how to withdraw from the study if you wish to. You can withdraw at any time by following the instructions. The ability to withdraw from a study at any time is your legal right.

We, as researchers, will follow the protocol of the study you have joined and will withdraw you accordingly.

Please note that withdrawing from a study will NOT impact the standard care you or your child (in case of a CAMHS study) receive in any way, as well as your legal rights. Participation in research is voluntary.

Taking part in clinical research

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