Take part in a clinical trial

A clinical trial is an experiment that involves patients in a new way of managing a condition. This might include investigating a new treatment, a new way of giving an existing treatment, or a new approach to diagnosing an illness or assessing an outcome after treatment.

Clinical trials are run because there is belief that the new way may be better than the standard way, and trials are vital to establish whether this is so. There is no guarantee of this, however - clinical trials are experimental by nature and there is a chance that the new way will be no better, or not as good even, as the standard way. Unexpected side-effects are also a possibility, or you may be put into the 'control group', which receives a placebo (dummy drug) or the standard existing treatment, rather than the new treatment.

If you are interested in taking part, or your child taking a part, in a clinical trial, speak to your/your child's health team about trials that may be suitable.

What information do I need when searching for a clinical trial?

Before searching, it is best to have the following information to hand about your/your child's tumour:

Tumour type
Tumour grade
Location of tumour within the brain
If the tumour is newly diagnosed or recurrent
Results of any biomarker testing
Any previous or current treatments for the tumour
If you have you had to stop any treatments, and why
Your/your child's age
Your/your child's general health, including any other medical conditions or any medications being taken.

Finding a clinical trial

Clinical trials take place globally and there are a number of different databases that you can search to see what is available. If you find a trial that you think is suitable, you should speak to your doctor.

Global clinical trials databases

Clinical Trials.gov

Provided by the US National Library of Medicine, it's a database of privately and publicly funded studies around the world, including the UK.

UK clinical trials databases

Cancer Research UK - Find a trial

Provided by Cancer Research UK, it covers trials in the UK only.

UK Clinical Trials Gateway

Provided by the NHS National Institute for Health Research, it covers trials in the UK only.

USA clinical trials databases

NBTS Clinical Trials Finder

Provided by the National Brain Tumour Society in the US, it covers trials in the USA only.

Please remember that clinical trials have strict eligibility criteria, which you must meet in order to join the trial.

If you need help with searching for a trial, please speak to your health team about trials that may be suitable for you.

Clinical trials and brain tumours - Standard format - PDF

Find out more in the full fact sheet.

Clinical trials and brain tumours - Clear Print - PDF

Find out more about Clinical trials and brain tumours in the full fact sheet - Clear Print version, designed to RNIB guidelines.

If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team: