Category: Get Involved!

Learn more about age group 13-18

We are known as the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)/ Cambridge Clinical Research Facility or NIHR Cambridge CRF for short.

We are based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with Addenbrooke’s Hospital. We work alongside the doctors and nurses at the hospital to find better medicines and treatments for diseases.

You may be joining us to help us with clinical research. Clinical research means looking at treating the human body and understanding how our bodies work.

Anyone under the age of 18 will need to have their parents’, guardian or carer’s permission to take part in a research trial. We then take your permission or consent to agree to take part in the trial. The form you would be asked to sign is an assent form. This is different to if you needed hospital treatment that wasn’t for research.

We ask children and young adults to take part because their bodies are different from adults. We have a very friendly team who will answer any of your questions before, during or after the study, so please don’t be afraid to ask.

If you take part in research we have special rooms away from the young children and adults where the researchers will see you. We have access to Wi-Fi so you can watch Netflix, YouTube, watch DVD’s or play on our PlayStation or Xbox whilst you wait, so you shouldn’t get bored!

Have a look through our website and see what taking part in research in Cambridge here is like.

We want to thank you for wanting to take part in research. Without you we can’t find new medicines to help other people. We look forward to seeing you and remember if you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask! You can follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date with the latest information.

Why are clinical trials important?
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Clinical trials are important because they help researchers, doctors and nurses find new treatments for diseases. Sometimes we use healthy people and sometimes we use people who already have a medical problem. Without people taking part in research we wouldn’t be able to find new medicines or treatments.

Who will look after me?
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We have lots of friendly staff who will look after you. One of the main people you may see is Anne our research sister. Anne looks after the children’s and young adult studies and if you have any questions feel free to ask her.

We want your stay to be a comfortable and enjoyable one if you experience any problems please let a member of our team know.

Our staff wear different coloured uniform, it’s so you know what job they do:

Stu is our head nurse and he wears black

Lucy is a Paediatric Research sister and she wears royal blue.

Thelma is a Research Nurse and she wears blue and white stripe

Sharon is our Assistant practitioner and she wears white with green piping on her collar.

What to expect
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When you take part in research you will come to the CRF on level 5.

Your parent, guardian or carer will accompany you to the ward where you will meet our friendly staff.

They will then show you where everything is, like the toilets, the day room and where you will meet the researchers.

Whilst you are waiting, you are very welcome to go on the internet, watch some dvds or use our Playstation or Xbox.

The researcher will explain what they want you to do. If you don’t understand, please ask the researcher or nurse and they will explain it to you again. If you are not happy or don’t want to take part you can say no at any time.

What will I be asked to do on a trial?
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It all depends on what kind of trial you are taking part in. There are many things you could be asked to do, such as having your height and weight measured, giving a small sample of your blood or having a scan. The researchers and nurses will be able to explain why they carrying out these kinds of tests.

We would never make you do anything you weren’t happy with, and you can always talk to the researchers or nurses if you have any questions about taking part in the trial.

How long does a trial take?
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It all depends what kind of trial you are taking part in. With some studies, people have stayed on the CRF for an hour and some other people have been asked to stay overnight. Your parent, carer or guardian is allowed to stay with you whilst you’re taking part in any kind of trial.

The researchers and nurses will be able to explain everything to you, and you don’t have to do anything you’re not happy with.

What we have
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We have lots of things at the CRF to make your stay more comfortable and so you’re not bored.

Games console – Xbox, Playstation
Wifi – to access the internet or channels such as YouTube etc.
DVD’s
Games
Books
Daily newspapers

Don’t forget to pack:

Any medicines you take
Clothes if you are staying overnight

You may want to bring your own things, which you are allowed to do:

Electronic tablet/ laptop if you want to use our wifi
Headphones
Books/ Magazines
iPod/ MP3 player
DVD’s

Please be aware that we cannot be responsible for your items if they go missing.

Category: Get Involved!

Learn more about age group 13-18

Why are clinical trials important?
Click to expand

Why are clinical trials important?

Who will look after me?
Click to expand

Who will look after me?

What to expect
Click to expand

What to expect

What will I be asked to do on a trial?
Click to expand

What will I be asked to do on a trial?

How long does a trial take?
Click to expand

How long does a trial take?

What we have
Click to expand

What we have

CRF Leaflet

NICE recommends Cambridge-developed ‘artificial pancreas’ for use on NHS for management of type 1 diabetes

UKCRF Network awarded £2.4 million in public funding to support the delivery of early phase research studies