Cancer Research and Clinical Trials

Research can help in the fight against cancer. To help advance cancer care and treatment the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program supports research studies at 2 of our program sites: WRHN Cancer Centre and Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

WRHN Cancer Centre and Cambridge Memorial Hospital each have a Clinical Trials Department. They work with universities, the government, and private agencies to plan and run clinical trials. This team helps support all cancer research studies running at their site. and Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a type of research study that tests how well a medical treatment will work. Researchers use clinical trials to test:

Medicines
Vaccines
Medical devices
Other types of treatments

All new trials are reviewed closely by a Research Ethics Board before they are offered to patients. Research into new types of cancer treatment can take many years to ensure they work and are safe.

Clinical Trials:

Test new kinds of treatment to see if they work and if they are safe
Compare a new type of treatment with an older one
Have set rules about who can join
Give you the chance to have more options for treatment
Give you access to treatments that are not always available yet

A Clinical Research Coordinator will work closely with you and your Oncologist (cancer doctor) when you go through a clinical trial. Know that you can withdraw your participation (e.g. stop going through the study) at any point in time during the trial.

Find a Clinical Trial

Outside of talking about clinical trials with your doctor, there are 2 key websites for you to search for clinical trials. These websites include trials that run at WRHN Cancer Centre, Cambridge Memorial Hospital, and other hospitals. They only include studies that have been registered with them.

Database of clinical trials from around the world Canadian Clinical Trials

Joining a Clinical Trial

As you go through cancer care and/or treatment you might be asked if you would like to join a clinical trial. Your Oncologist or Oncology Nurse will often bring this up during an appointment or follow-up visit.

If you consent to a referral to a clinical trial, this is what can happen next:

1.

A referral will be sent to the clinical trials team. They will contact you to book an appointment.

2.

Someone from the clinical trials team will meet with you to go over information about the trial.

3.

You will have to provide “informed consent” if you would like to join and participate.

4.

Once you consent, the clinical trials team will give you specific information about next steps.

Key Contacts

LOCATION	CONCTACT INFO	REASON TO CONTACT
WRHN Clinical Trials	519-749-4300 extension 2876 [email protected]	Questions about clinical trials being offered at WRHN Cancer Centre.
WRHN Cancer Centre	519-749-4380 View our clinic contact information for the extension for your clinic You can also talk to your oncologist during an appointment	Find out if you would qualify for a research study or clinical trial Expert advice on how joining a clinical trial can impact your care Ask for referral to other research studies outside of Waterloo Wellington Region
Cambridge Memorial Hospital Clinical Trials	[email protected] 519-621-2333 ext 2594 Monday – Thursday 7:30am-3:30pm	Questions about clinical trials being offered at Cambridge Memorial Hospital