mac(uk)neuroscience-information
.information.for.patients
Click on any of the links for the answer to the question
This leaflet (in pdf format) will give you some more information. You may need to download 
to view it. (This is free)
What is a clinical drug trial?
What are the benefits of being involved in clinical research?
How to become involved in our clinical trials
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What questions should I ask about a research trial ?
2. What is a placebo?
3. What is a blind trial?
4. What is a randomised trial?
5. What is an ethics committee?
6. Do I have to decide at once?
7. Do I have to say yes?
8. What will happen if I say no?
9. How will research help me?
Doctors are always looking for safer and more effective drugs to treat patients. Clinical drug trials are research studies conducted to check if investigational medications are safe and also that they are of benefit to patients
Over half a million people in the UK each year choose to participate in clinical trials. The reasons are varied. Some people wish to make a contribution to help others in the future and to assist doctors in gaining medical knowledge. Some wish to gain access to promising drugs long before they become generally available. Others have an area of interest in a particular therapeutic area and gain the satisfaction of knowing they have contributed to a particular scientific investigation
Typically in each of our clinical trials, research participants receive the following benefits at no cost.
- Laboratory tests eg. Bloods & Urine tests
- Electrocardiographs (ECG)
- Physical Examinations
- Interview by a Doctor to assess general physical and mental wellbeing
- The Study Drug
- Travel allowance to cover costs to and from appointments
- Referral for further treatment if this is required
We regularly conduct studies into many areas including Alzheimer's DIsease, Mild Memory Problems, Parkinson's Disease and Stroke related memory problems.
If you are interested in participating in one of our Clinical Research Studies please contact us by one of the following methods below. We will add this to our database and should we be conducting or planning to conduct a study in this area then we will contact you with further information should you wish.
Alternatively we will soon be adding an online form the link for which will appear below. After completing the form please click the submit button and the entered information will be sent to us. All information submitted will be treated as strictly confidential.
Online form (coming very soon)
There is no complete list of all the questions that might be relevant to a particular study but the following lists possible questions you may wish to ask a member of your trial team.
- What will happen to me?
- Why is the study being done?
- Has an ethics committee approved the study?
- Do I have tablets, or injections or blood tests?
- Will equipment be fitted on me?
- How often will this happen and for how long?
- Will it hurt, will I have pain relief if I want it?
- Will I have to make extra visits to the doctor and for how long ?
- Will my fares or expenses from the appointment be paid?
- Are there any risks in taking part in the research and what are they?
- What happens when the study ends, and if a new treatment helps me can I continue on it after the study ends?
- Will I be told the research results?
- Will I have any medical checks later on to see if there are any long term effects of treatment?
- Will my involvement in the study remain confidential?
Many patients get better, or get symptoms that look like side effects even if they are only having a dummy treatment (Placebo). Placebos look like the real treatment and studies use a placebo to prove that the effects from the treatment are really due to the drug. If a study has a placebo then you should consider if you would mind being put in that group and what effect that might have upon you
A single blind trial is where the patient does not know if he/she is receiving treatment or a placebo. In a double blind study the investigator also does not know what treatment each patient is being given. At the end of the study the blinding code is broken to see if those patients on active treatment have done significantly better than those patients who were on placebo.
These studies compare two or more treatments. Which treatment you receive is determined by random, eg a computer to make sure the treatments are compared in a fair way.
The committees job is to decide that studies conducted are ethical and well designed; and protect those patients who take part
If you are not sure about participating in research, ask for some time to think about it. Usually participants are provided with written information well in advance of a study to allow full discussion with family and friends or GPs as well as the study investigators. But whatever they say the decision is still yours. You will not be rushed into treatment that you would rather not have Any questions you have should be fully discussed and you should take as long as you wish to decide if you want to participate
No. You can refuse to take part in research. You can also change your mind at any time even if you have signed a consent form. You do not have to give a reason for changing your mind although it may help the researcher if the reason is something that could be improved to help future volunteers No one should feel that they have to agree to participate in research.
You may worry that if you take part this will affect your medical care. The researcher should explain that you will have the best possible patient care whether or not you decide to participate
Research is often done with patients as part of their treatment. You should be told how the treatment may benefit you. The research may however not benefit those who directly take part but may benefit other people in the future.
.information.for.gps
The Memory Clinics pride themselves with very close links to general practice and provide high specialist assessment of patients with memory disorders.
Click on any of the links for the answer to the question.
This leaflet (in pdf format) will give you some more information.
You may need to download to view it. (This is free)
How can your Practice take advantage of our Memory Assessment Clinics?
What are the Practice benefits of our clinical research services?
What are the benefits of research to the patient and GP?
For further information, or if you wish to visit any of our centres
To Make a Referral
The memory clinic service is currently offered free of charge and accepts self referrals from patients over the age of 60 as well as referrals from GPs and Consultants.
If you wish to make a referral, the assessment usually takes about an hour and where possible we will ask the patient to attend the clinic (although home visits can sometimes be arranged for people who are unable to travel).
Please contact your nearest memory clinic by telephone or referral letter:
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All care that relates to the clinical study is provided by the Memory Assessment Centre. We also provide 24 hour emergency service for advice or assessment where necessary.
Results from investigations carried out as part of the clinical study will be forwarded to the practice from investigations e.g. Blood results, ECGs & Scans etc
All investigations and the cost of drugs are free during the course of a clinical trial. In many studies drug costs are covered for periods exceeding the length of the clinical study.
We provide direct access to lecture theatre and boardroom facilities for ongoing education. We also facilitate seminars or lectures from academics and clinical experts in research methodology.
Many of our personnel hold Local Honorary University contracts, lecture Internationally and are widely experienced in Research & Development and ethical issues surrounding clinical research. Although we provide full clinical support for studies within our Company we do liaise closely with General Practitioners have a special interest in conducting R&D. Please contact us for further information.
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In the case of a patient choosing to be included in a clinical trial, the GP will be kept fully informed of their progress during the course of the study.
Further tests performed as part of the study requirements may include CT/ MRI brain scans, Functional EEGs, blood tests, vital sign monitoring and ECG's. Copies of these tests will be forwarded to the GP free of charge.
A 24-hour emergency telephone contact is available to all patients taking part in a clinical trial.
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You can email us
: research@memoryclinic.co.uk
or alternatively submit your details via this online form
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