Overview
The Division of Hematology / Oncology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center focuses on developing new treatments for children with cancer and blood diseases through advanced clinical and laboratory based research. Through integrated care with hematologists, oncologists and other health care professionals, we hope to improve the quality of our pediatric patients' lives.
Participation in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies involving people. Participation in clinical trials is purely voluntary and participants may leave a study at any time and not jeopardize future medical care. Most clinical trials are treatment studies designed to answer specific questions about and evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment or a new way of using an old treatment.
Informed Consent
Before beginning your participation in a clinical trial, all patients and / or their parents or guardians will receive detailed information about the clinical trial through two means, the informed consent document and the informed consent process.
Informed Consent Document
The informed consent document provides a summary of the clinical trial and explains your rights as a participant and includes information such as the purpose of the trial, the treatment outline and schedule, potential risks and benefits, and alternatives to participation.
Informed Consent Process
During the informed consent process you will meet with members of the research team to discuss the details of the clinical trial. At this time, you may ask any questions or raise any concerns you might have regarding the trial. If you then decide to enter the trial, you will give your official consent by signing the informed consent document. You will be given a copy of the document to serve as a resource throughout the trial. You have the right to leave the study at any time without jeopardizing your future medical care.
Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials
Some of the clinical trials offered are categorized as Phase I or Phase II clinical trials. Phase I trials involve a small number of volunteer participants to help determine how the specific drug being studied affects the body and the amount of the study drug that may be safely administered. Phase II trials generally involve less than 100 volunteers to measure the effectiveness of a new drug or the effectiveness of the study drug used in a new way. Phase I and Phase II trials involve new experimental treatments, and offer both risks and benefits. The research team will fully explain the risks and benefits of the trial you are considering, during the informed consent process.
Please review the list of diagnoses for detailed clinical trial information.
