Clinical trials at HCA UK
As part of HCA UK, Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK (SCRI UK) provides access to cutting-edge therapies. As the first and only unit outside the NHS to offer new anti-cancer drugs in therapeutic clinical trials, SCRI UK serves both private and NHS patients.
Through HCA UK and Sarah Cannon, patients have access to the full cancer pathway across a number of specialist hospital and outpatient settings, including dedicated private cancer facilities on-site at University College Hospital and Guy's and St Thomas’.
Sarah Cannon Research Institute is the research arm of HCA Healthcare’s global cancer institute, Sarah Cannon. For 25 years, the organisation has focused on advancing therapies for patients and has become one of the world’s leading clinical research organisations conducting community-based clinical trials throughout the United States and United Kingdom. The organisation has led more than 300 first-in-man clinical trials since its inception in 1993, and has been a clinical trial leader in the majority of approved cancer therapies over the last 10 years.
Sarah Cannon has many UK-based clinical trials in active enrolment, providing patients with direct access to cutting-edge therapies at the earliest opportunity.
Our clinical trials team
Every trial is conducted by a Principal Investigator. The Principal Investigator is the doctor who will lead the research team on a specific trial. All our Principal Investigators are Consultant Oncologists who have spent years involved in research into new, more effective cancer treatments and have worked in internationally-renowned teaching hospitals.
Our Principal Investigators are supported by a carefully selected research team, each with extensive qualifications in research and cancer care. This team includes our Clinical Research Nurses, who provide the highest quality of nursing care. Our Research Nurses act as the patient’s advocate, ensuring that each patient is treated in a very personal way and considered individually.
Every member of our research team is committed to maintaining each patient’s rights to privacy, dignity, religion and cultural beliefs and confidentiality. During our opening hours, there is always a doctor on duty who specialises in oncology and clinical research. We also provide access to a consultant 24-hours a day, should a patient require out-of-hours treatment.
Understanding clinical trials
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What is a clinical trial? icon plus
A clinical trial is also known as a medical research study. It is a carefully designed test of medicines and treatment options under the supervision of a doctor. -
Who can participate in a clinical trial? icon plus
Clinical trials rely on people, referred to as study participants, to try the new medicine or treatment. Any participation is voluntary. Each clinical trial defines who is eligible to take part in the study and must include only people who fit the patient characteristics for that study (the eligibility criteria). Some trials enrol people who have a specific disease or condition. Other trials enrol healthy people to test new approaches to prevention, diagnosis or screening. -
What is the aim of a clinical trial? icon plus
Clinical trials are carefully designed tests that assess the safety, effectiveness and/or benefits of medicines and treatment options administered under the supervision of a consultant. -
Are clinical trials different from standard clinical care? icon plus
If you take part in a clinical trial, you will still have tests or treatments in a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. However, you may have more tests and medical examinations than you would otherwise. The purpose of clinical trials is research, so the studies follow strict scientific standards. These standards protect patients and help produce reliable study results. -
How are clinical trials regulated? icon plus
Every study participant is closely monitored with medical tests and examinations before, during and after the clinical trial. In addition, clinical trials must follow strict rules set by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health.
Contact us
Any questions about our research or clinical trials at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute? Get in touch by telephone and we'll be happy to help.