Health research guide

Health research helps us find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness. At the South West Commercial Research Group, we work with volunteers who choose to take part in studies. This might involve testing new medicines, devices, or approaches to care. Every study is carefully designed and reviewed to make sure it is safe, ethical, and valuable.

There are lots of different types of health research. These include:

Clinical Trials: these test new medicines, vaccines, or medical devices. They usually have several phases.

Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs): in an RCT Participants are randomly (by chance, not choice) assigned to different groups. One group receives the new treatment, while another may receive the standard treatment or a placebo (a dummy treatment). Neither the participants nor sometimes even the research team know which group people are in – this is called blinding. This design helps ensure results are fair, unbiased, and reliable.

Observational Studies: researchers collect information about health without giving a treatment. For example, an observational study may be looking at lifestyle, environment, or how people respond to existing treatments.

Device Studies: testing new equipment such as blood pressure monitors, heart devices, or digital health tools, to see how well they work in practice.

Diagnostic Studies: trying out new tests or scans to see if they can detect illness earlier or more accurately.

Interview Studies: researchers may ask you questions about your health, treatment, or experiences of care. These help improve understanding of what it’s like to live with certain conditions.

Decentralised Studies: not all research has to happen in hospital. Some studies let you take part from home using phone calls, video visits, or wearable technology. You may only need to come into the centre for certain key appointments.

A team of healthcare and research staff work together to make sure the study runs safely and smoothly. You may meet some of them while taking part.

• Principal Investigator (PI): this is the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for leading the study at your hospital or research centre. They make sure everything is carried out properly and safely.

• Chief Investigator (CI): this the person with overall responsibility for the study across the whole country (or sometimes several countries). You may not meet them, but they design the study and oversee how it is run.

• Research Doctors: are doctors involved in the study who provide clinical care and support for participants.

• Research Nurses: are nurses who guide you through the study, provide information, and help with your care during participation.

• Research Practitioners: are staff who support the study in many ways, such as collecting information, explaining what is involved, and helping you take part.

• Pharmacists: make sure any medicines used in the study are prepared correctly and given safely.

• Laboratory Teams: carry out tests on samples (such as blood or tissue) to provide important information for the study.

• Clinical Trial Administrators: help organise the study, keep records, and make sure everything runs smoothly.

You may hear the following terms when taking part in research:

Informed Consent is the process of agreeing to take part in a study after having all the information you need and plenty of time to think about it.

Eligibility Criteria are the rules about who can take part in a study (for example, some studies may have restrictions such as age, health conditions, or other factors).

Randomisation is a process that uses chance (like flipping a coin) to decide which treatment group you are in. This makes the results fair and unbiased.

Placebos are treatments that looks the same as the study medicine but have no active ingredients. It helps researchers check whether the real treatment is making a difference.

Protocols are the official plan or “rule book” that explains exactly how the study must be carried out.

Blinding is when participants, and sometimes researchers, don’t know who is getting the real treatment or the placebo. This avoids bias.

Adverse Events are any health problem that happens while you’re on a study, whether or not they are potentially caused by the study treatment.

Sponsor – the organisation (such as a university, NHS trust, charity, or company) responsible for the study.

Ethics Committee – an independent group of experts and members of the public who review studies to make sure they are safe and fair before they can begin.

Health research is a partnership. It needs funding (money and resources) to cover things like staff time, study visits, specialist equipment, and sometimes even travel support for participants. Funding can come from different places:

The NHS and Government: Public funding helps support studies that improve patient care and strengthen the health service for everyone. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is one example of a government body that invests heavily in health research.

Charities: Many charities fund studies into conditions that matter to their communities, such as cancer, heart disease, or rare diseases. Their focus is often on making life better for people affected by a particular condition.

Life Sciences Companies: This includes companies that develop new medicines, vaccines, medical devices, or digital health technologies. Their funding helps test whether new innovations are safe and effective. By partnering with the NHS, these companies can ensure research is carried out to the highest standards and that patients benefit from the latest developments.

Universities and Research Institutes: Academic organisations often apply for grants to explore new ideas, develop early discoveries, or test theories in real-world settings.