Most people assume clinical trials are purely about testing new medicines. But what if the process of being screened to join a trial could uncover a health condition you didn't know you had?

In this episode, Catriona is joined by Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager at Liverpool's Clinical Research Facility, and Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director of the NIHR-funded CRF at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Together they discuss a research paper exploring the clinically significant findings identified during trial screening, and why that changes the conversation around participation.

They cover:

• What a clinical trial screening actually involves — and why it functions as a comprehensive health check
• The real-world cases their research uncovered, including latent TB, hepatitis B, Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, and a lymphoma diagnosis
• Why the standard phrase "no direct benefit" doesn't tell the full story
• The data behind the findings: roughly 1 in 17 healthy volunteers and 1 in 25 patients had a previously undetected condition identified
• How they worked with communities to rewrite patient information into genuinely accessible language, reducing the reading age from 14-15 down to the recommended 11
• Their discussions with the Phase One Advisory Group at the HRA, and the goal of making this level of transparency standard across all trials

Whether you've ever considered joining a clinical trial or simply want to understand more about how medicines are developed and tested, this conversation offers a perspective that's rarely heard outside research circles.

Guests:

Kate Dodd, Recruitment and Engagement Manager, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility

Dr Lauren Walker, Deputy Director, NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility

My Health Focus is not a medical service. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

JOIN THE MY HEALTH FOCUS COMMUNITY AND SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.