Clinical Trials

Clinical trials form an essential part of research work. The best kind of trials are randomised – this is when the treatment (or intervention) is allocated at random. Once all the data has been collected and analysed, the idea is that in a properly randomised trial, any differences seen between the two groups will be a real difference due to the treatment rather than due to chance. If a study is too small (not enough subjects) or it is not randomised then it becomes difficult to really understand the results.

Whenever possible it is also good to blind the participants and investigators. This means that we no one should know who has had the intervention and who has not. This works in drug trials but not in surgical trials.

Clinical trials require a huge amount of time and cost – starting with ethics approvals, working out how many participants are needed and finally actually performing the trial and monitoring the results.  

We are positioning NURG as a trial centre. Due to our high volume and significant experience NURG will be undertaking clinical trials in the future.