We support International Clinical Trials Day on the 20th May each year to recognise the people who conduct and take part in research studies.
A big thank you to all our amazing D-CYPHR volunteers - almost 10,000 and counting! Health research and the patient benefit it delivers is only possible if people volunteer to take part. Without carefully designed research studies, most of the advances in healthcare over the last 200 years wouldn’t have happened.
Research teams from several hospitals supporting recruitment of new volunteers into D-CYPHR hosted stalls in communal areas with fun activities for children and the chance for families to find out more about taking part in research.
The first clinical trial
One of the earliest clinical trials was conducted in 1747 by James Lind, a Scottish doctor and a pioneer of naval hygiene in the Royal Navy. At the time, a disease called scurvy was a huge problem for sailors and Lind wanted to investigate whether citrus fruits could cure it.
He selected 12 patients with scurvy on a ship, divided them into 6 pairs, and gave different treatments to each over the course of a week. The treatments included drinking cider, vinegar or sea-water, or eating citrus fruits.
The sailors whose daily diet included citrus fruits recovered, therefore proving that citrus fruit could cure scurvy.
Today, there is a wide range of research that’s carried out in health and social care. It still involves clinical trials of new drugs or surgical techniques, but also focuses more broadly on our wellbeing and quality of life.
Get involved in health research
Be Part Of Research is an NIHR flagship initiative that makes it easier for more people to participate in health and care research, supporting recruitment activity across the UK. The NIHR are running a 3 week campaign to highlight powerful stories from people who have taken part in research across the country to encourage people to take part in research.
Keep an eye on our social media to see why some of our very own D-CYPHR volunteers decided to sign up.
Find out more about joining the DNA, Children's + Young People's Health Resource (D-CYPHR) from home by filling in a health and lifestyle questionnaire and spitting in a tube.