Register your interest in becoming a potential volunteer for clinical trials at the CRU or find more information about consenting for registration with us.
Volunteer
Become a Volunteer
Register to Take Part
Who We Are
Our Facility is Situated Within the Royal Liverpool Hospital Site
We are lucky enough to be in the unique position to have access to all facilities the hospital has to offer.
We’ve done more than 100 trials, including 15 phase 1 and first in human trials. We have an exceptional record for safety and putting our volunteers first and have held MHRA phase 1 accreditation status since 2012.
We currently have over 30 highly trained staff, including doctors and nurses. Our Medical Director has over 12 years’ experience of clinical trials. All our ward staff are ILS and GCP trained and continue to update their clinical skills in line with NHS guidelines.
Since 2009, when the unit opened, more than 2500 volunteers have been part of a trial here. Many come back to repeat the experience.
How It Works
What Is a Clinical Trial?
Before any new drug or medical device can be utilised by any doctor around the world it has to undergo rigorous testing to ensure it is safe and actually works to prevent or cure the disease or alleviate symptoms.
A clinical trial is part of this rigorous testing and involves research using human volunteers that is intended to add to the medical knowledge about the new product.
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1. The First Steps
How It Works
The First Steps
SECOND STEPUpon enquiry, we will send you a patient information leaflet which is an in-depth summary of the trial you want to take part in. We request that you read through this information as you may wish to discuss with family and/or friends. Our highly skilled clinical staff can answer any queries you may have. If you are still interested, a member of the recruitment team will call you to complete a quick initial eligibility check. This is processed to determine your eligibility and if successful you will be contacted with screening appointment dates. Don’t forget, you can change your mind and stop the trial at any time.
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2. The Screening Visit
How It Works
The Screening Visit
THIRD STEPYou will need to bring photographic ID, i.e. passport or a driving license and proof of your National Insurance Number, i.e. tax letter, payslip, NI card. Some trials have certain regulations, which you may need to adhere to. For example avoiding certain foods or cutting out alcohol for some days. You will be provided with all this information beforehand. Upon arrival for your screening visit, you will be given a consent form to sign which demonstrates that you have read the patient information leaflet and consent to participating in the trial. You will then undergo a thorough health check which generally takes a couple of hours. You may be reimbursed for your time and travel expenses. Again you can change your mind and stop the trial at any time.
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3. Health Check (Screening Visit)
How It Works
Health Check (Screening Visit)
LAST STEPYour free health check or screening is very thorough. The doctor will go over your medical history and then give you a physical examination. Your height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate will be recorded. The nurses will test your heart function using an ECG machine, as well as taking blood and urine samples. For safety purposes, we may contact your doctor to verify your past medical history.
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4. Taking Part in a Trial
How It Works
Taking Part in a Trial
TAKE PARTWe will contact you after your screening visit to let you know whether you’re eligible for the trial. If not, don’t worry. Each study has specific criteria and even if you meet most of them, something as simple as a recent flu jab can affect a clinical trial. If you aren’t suitable for this trial, with your permission we will register you on to our volunteer database, Consent 4 Consent, and we will contact you when a trial becomes available in which we think you may be suitable for. If you are accepted onto a trial, you will be informed of the next steps, any other precautions or changes you must adhere to and further details of the research taking place.
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital Clinical Research Facility primarily conducts Clinical Trials with small numbers of healthy volunteers or patients. The information gathered from these smaller clinical trials is then used to plan the later stage clinical trials involving larger numbers of participants; these can take place in many sites around the world. All of this information is then collected and reviewed prior to a licence being granted to allow doctors to prescribe to their patients.
Our Facilities
Unit Equipment
- A 6 bed nursing bay
- Five single and one double in-patient rooms
- A comfortable TV room with TV/DVD facilities
- A beverage bay
- Shower and toilet facilities (including disabled access)
- Wi-Fi access for laptops and mobile phones
- Catering services for the duration of your stay including a wide selection of hot and cold foods
Meet the Team
Our team of dedicated, professional and highly-skilled staff are here to enhance your experience of clinical trials. Find out more about some of the key people you will meet as a patient or volunteer.
- Dr Richard FitzGerald – Clinical Research Facility Director and Consultant
- Dr Marcin Bula – Consultant
- Dr Lauren Walker – Consultant
- Zalina Rashid-Gardner – Clinical Manager
- Kate Dodd – Recruitment Manager
- Becky Lyon – Senior Research Nurse
- Laura Kanina – Research Nurse
- Lesley Dry – Research Nurse
- Melanie Griffin – Research Nurse
- Belinda Evboren – Research Nurse
- Alex Ros – Clinical Research Assistant
- Antonia Owatemi – Clerical Research Assistant
- Lynn Owens – Clinical Research Assistant
- Chloe McDonnell – Clinical Research Assistant
- Gillian McMillan – Recruitment Officer
- Amend Mary Savage – Recruitment Officer
- Emma Truss – Clerical Research Assistant (Recruitment)
- Ebosetale Akata – Clerical Research Assistant
- Eleanor Murphy – Senior Data Officer
- Georgina McKenzie – Research Nurse
- Robert Cullen Clinical – Clinical Research Assistant
- Rebekah McLaughlin – Clinical Research Assistant
- Lynn Bradley Clinical – Clinical Research Assistant
© 2023 NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility