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Home > About Newcastle Hospitals > Research and development > Information for patients

Information for patients

Find out more about what it means to take part in clinical trials and studies.

A collage of photos including a mother and daughter and hospital staff consulting their patients.

Research wouldn’t be possible without people like you taking part. 

Clinical trials and studies are part of health research. They help us to find out more about our health, discover new treatments for different diseases, and spot health issues sooner.

In Newcastle our research is varied, with around 500 studies running at any one time across all clinical areas – from studies that involve a simple interview or conversation, through to testing medicines and treatments at different stages of development.

Each time you participate, you could be helping to shape the future of healthcare.

Find out more about the ways you can get involved in research, or watch a video of patient Ben talking about his experiences of taking part in a trial.

Facts about research

You may have heard some things about health research that make you unsure about taking part.  It’s important to have the facts before deciding if you want to be involved.

  • Taking part in health research is up to you. You can change your mind at any time, even after you’ve signed up. Whether you do or don’t take part in research will have no impact on any current treatment you may be having.
  • All health research goes through detailed safety checks.
  • We need healthy people to take part in research as well as people with health conditions.
  • Some of our health research takes place in hospital, but you can also take part over the phone, online, or at one of our research facilities.
  • Your data will only be used in line with strict criteria around anonymity and ethics.

What difference does clinical research make?

Below are just a few examples of how our recent research is changing lives. If you’d like to know more, you can sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter, Research Matters, by emailing [email protected].

Potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis developed in Newcastle  

A clinical trial led by researchers in Newcastle is investigating the best way to administer a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Earlier research has shown promise in the treatment’s ability to ‘calm down’ the immune system and prevent cells from attacking healthy tissue – a response seen in rheumatoid arthritis.

The treatment, called tolerogenic dendritic cell therapy, has been developed by scientists and researchers working across Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University.

Eight babies born after treatment to reduce mitochondrial disease

A pioneering licensed technique to reduce the risk of mitochondrial diseases has seen eight babies born without mitochondrial disease.

This ground-breaking research took place in Newcastle and means that more women at risk of passing on mitochondrial disease now have the chance to have healthy children who can grow up free of this devastating condition.

Withdrawal of kidney treatment significantly benefits patients and NHS

Newcastle-led research means that patients with a rare kidney condition can safely withdraw from eculizumab, a treatment for Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS).

Eculizumab, while highly effective, significantly increases the risk of sepsis. Now, research has shown that patients can safely withdraw from the drug after six months.

Once treatment is stopped, the risk of developing sepsis is eliminated.  Reducing the use of eculizumab also represents a significant cost saving to the NHS – around £4m in one patient’s lifetime use.

Newcastle Hospitals one of two sites to test a new device for patients with paralysis

The trust is one of only two UK sites selected to run a study looking at how a new brain implant could help to improve the quality of life, mobility, and independence of patients living with severe paralysis.

The wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) is an implant designed to enable voluntary control of external devices, such as a computer or mobile phone, using brain activity. It is intended to help people living with severe neurological conditions that affect the ability to walk, move and use both hands, such as spinal cord injuries and motor neurone disease.

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