Research nurses support and coordinate the delivery of clinical trials, which involves taking samples, administering investigational medicines and obtaining consent for studies. They have specific training to be able to take consent and have an in-depth knowledge of a range of research studies and clinical trials available.
A non-research nurse will not be able to obtain consent for studies, but they may support the research trials by taking samples and administering medicines. Research nurses work within a wider children’s cancer research network across the UK with investigators involved within each study.
Q: Does every Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) have a research nurse?
A: Each PTC will have a research nurse to support the delivery of clinical trials. Some centres only have one or two nurses and others may have a larger team of nurses, supported by a team of data managers and clinical trial coordinators. The shared care centres don’t have their own research nurses, though the PTC they are attached to will support any research trials for that area.
Q: Do you administer the treatment?
A: Different childhood cancer treatment centres may work differently to others. Here at BCH, the research nurses will often administer the treatment, though nurses on the ward and in day-care settings are also qualified to do so, so don’t worry if it’s not a research nurse on every occasion. If it’s a novel drug that nonresearch nurses are unfamiliar with, the research team will always be there to support administration.
Q: How is the information from my child's participation collected, stored, sent to and used by the researchers?
A: Any information collected for a study will be confidential, meaning patient identifiable information will be removed. The data managers who support the research nurses will collect data from the patient’s medical records and securely upload it on to an encrypted confidential database where the researcher can access the information without having direct access to your child’s notes. Any samples that are required by the trial will be handled appropriately and sent to the trial’s main lab for analysis.
Q: How does my child taking part in a trial make a difference for future treatments?
A: Taking part in a trial can have a really positive impact for future treatment as this is how researchers and clinicians develop new medicines and improve current treatments, reduce toxicities and late effects. The ultimate aim is to improve prognosis and quality of life for each of our cancer patients.
Do you have a question to ask one of our experts?
Please get in touch by emailing info@cclg.org.uk or via DM on our social channels. We may feature your question on a future ‘Ask the Expert’ page to help other families and patients who have the same question.
Parents and carers who would like to join our private Facebook group can do so here
From Contact magazine issue 96 - Autumn 2022
