About trials in New Zealand
What does the New Zealand Clinical Trials Portal do and who is it for?
The New Zealand Clinical Trials Portal (NZCTP) is a new way for both patients and clinicians to find out about medical and health research in New Zealand. It is a quick and easy way for the public, healthcare providers and industry partners to gather information about clinical trials online.
What ethical and legal protection is there?
Ethical approval is required for all clinical trials in New Zealand. It is the backbone of any application for undertaking clinical research here. All clinical trials in New Zealand are expected to be conducted in accordance with the internationally accepted standards.
How does the ethical approval process work in New Zealand?
Health & Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) approval is required for all research involving humans. Only one ethics committee review is required per study in New Zealand and this covers all sites. It takes 4-6 weeks from submission to full approval. The process is not difficult, but it's important to know the documents to prepare, the groups to be contacted and the processes to follow.
What to consider when talking to patients about clinical trials?
As health care professionals are able to provide accurate and balanced information for their patients, the focus of discussions should be to raise awareness of clinical trials and discuss the risks and benefits of participation, rather than to specifically encourage participation in a trial.
What mechanisms exist to refer patients to clinical trials?
There are numerous clinical trials currently operating in New Zealand and you can search for a trial appropriate for patients on this website. If they are comfortable looking at trials themselves, this is something you may be able to do together.
How do I get involved in a clinical trial?
You may wish to become involved in running a clinical trial yourself, if you are interested in a research question or you have patients and/or expertise to contribute. Contact sponsors of research or current research groups about the possibility of participating in a trial.
Where can I find out about research qualifications?
If you are interested in conducting research, you may need to further your own qualifications in order to do so, visit NZACRES for information and course times.
Why talk about clinical trials?
The topic of clinical trials may seem daunting to healthcare consumers so it needs to be explained in an impartial and informative way. As a frontline medical professional, you are best placed to have this discussion with members of the public. You may also wish to point people towards the New Zealand Clinical Trial Portal, so that they can read about clinical trial procedures in a clear, concise way in their own time.