Clinical trials are conducted to investigate if a new treatment or technique is better than the standard treatment. This can include new approaches to radiation therapy, new drugs, vaccines and different combinations of treatment.

A doctor is always the person responsible for the conduct of a clinical trial at a centre or hospital.  All clinical trials conducted in Australia must also be granted approval by an independent Ethics Committee before commencing.

A new treatment will only advance into clinical trials once an Ethics Committee and the participating doctors have determined that it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Drugs are developed in different phases of clinical trials. To find out more about each phase click here.