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Clinical trial participation basics with Professor Carsten Flohr
In this episode of Life With a Difference, I’m joined by Professor Carsten Flohr, Professor of Dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London, and Consultant Dermatologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Through my work as a patient advocate, I regularly encounter myths and misconceptions about clinical trials, from fears about being a “guinea pig” to concerns about safety, placebo, and being locked in once you start. This conversation is intended to help address those concerns and explain, in plain language, how clinical trials actually work.
We also explore why trial participation is so vitally important. Without people choosing to take part, new medicines cannot be developed, tested, or approved. Clinical trials are the foundation of progress in medicine, and they are how safer, more effective treatments reach patients who desperately need them.
What we cover
00:00 Intro
00:31 Who Professor Flohr is and why clinical trials matter
02:20 How medicines are developed, from discovery to post-marketing monitoring
03:50 Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 explained
04:20 MHRA, NICE and NHS commissioning in the UK
06:05 QALYs and how NICE assesses value for money
08:10 What a clinical trial actually is
09:05 Common myths and misconceptions about trial participation
10:00 Trial design, washout periods and independent oversight
13:10 What a trial visit looks like in real life
16:30 Endpoints, placebo and open-label extensions
18:20 Your right to withdraw at any time
19:05 What happens when a trial ends
21:50 Why diversity in trials matters and who is under-represented
24:40 Reimbursement, remote trials and patient involvement
30:15 How to find clinical trials and trusted resources
38:05 Final advice for patients considering research
Resources mentioned
UK Clinical Trials Gateway
ClinicalTrials.gov
UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network
British Skin Foundation
National Eczema Society
Psoriasis Association
NIHR
Sponsorship and transparency
This episode was sponsored by Novartis. Novartis had no editorial control over the content. This episode is non-promotional, for educational purposes only, and does not provide medical advice. No medicines are discussed or endorsed. Always speak to your clinician or research team for personal medical guidance.
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By Andy CollinsonIn this episode of Life With a Difference, I’m joined by Professor Carsten Flohr, Professor of Dermatology at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London, and Consultant Dermatologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Through my work as a patient advocate, I regularly encounter myths and misconceptions about clinical trials, from fears about being a “guinea pig” to concerns about safety, placebo, and being locked in once you start. This conversation is intended to help address those concerns and explain, in plain language, how clinical trials actually work.
We also explore why trial participation is so vitally important. Without people choosing to take part, new medicines cannot be developed, tested, or approved. Clinical trials are the foundation of progress in medicine, and they are how safer, more effective treatments reach patients who desperately need them.
What we cover
00:00 Intro
00:31 Who Professor Flohr is and why clinical trials matter
02:20 How medicines are developed, from discovery to post-marketing monitoring
03:50 Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 explained
04:20 MHRA, NICE and NHS commissioning in the UK
06:05 QALYs and how NICE assesses value for money
08:10 What a clinical trial actually is
09:05 Common myths and misconceptions about trial participation
10:00 Trial design, washout periods and independent oversight
13:10 What a trial visit looks like in real life
16:30 Endpoints, placebo and open-label extensions
18:20 Your right to withdraw at any time
19:05 What happens when a trial ends
21:50 Why diversity in trials matters and who is under-represented
24:40 Reimbursement, remote trials and patient involvement
30:15 How to find clinical trials and trusted resources
38:05 Final advice for patients considering research
Resources mentioned
UK Clinical Trials Gateway
ClinicalTrials.gov
UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network
British Skin Foundation
National Eczema Society
Psoriasis Association
NIHR
Sponsorship and transparency
This episode was sponsored by Novartis. Novartis had no editorial control over the content. This episode is non-promotional, for educational purposes only, and does not provide medical advice. No medicines are discussed or endorsed. Always speak to your clinician or research team for personal medical guidance.