Our patients are at the centre of all that we do. As well as delivering excellent health care, we are committed to investigating new and better ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease and disorders across ophthalmology (eyes) and otolaryngology (ears, nose, throat, and head and neck) to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients.
You can help by taking part in the many studies conducted across the precinct (including by our research partner organisations).
What is Clinical Research and how to be part of a clinical trial
What is involved in a research study can vary depending on what the researchers are investigating.
It may be as simple as allowing researchers to look at a patient’s medical records or use leftover tissue or blood that is collected as part of their routine medical care. It may be as complex as a first time in human clinical trial involving experimental medicines, cell or tissue therapies, or medical devices.
Involvement in studies may include:
Interviews, questionnaires and surveys
Blood or urine tests
Imaging such as x-rays or MRI scans
Interventional studies called clinical trials; these types of studies are explained in more detail below
Clinical trials are a type of research that generate safety and efficacy data for health interventions. Clinical trials are conducted only after satisfactory non-clinical (laboratory) safety information has been gathered on the proposed intervention, and an ethics committee has approved the trial and any regulatory and governance authorisation requirements met.
Clinical trials are used to find new or better ways to prevent, detect, treat or manage various diseases or medical conditions. Clinical trials can involve research into the following:
new medicines,
surgical and other medical treatments and procedures
medical devices
vaccines
educational interventions
diets
psychological or behavioural counselling
Trials offer the hope of developing better interventions or tests for a particular disease or condition, so that even if a trial does not provide a benefit for an individual, it may provide benefits for others with the disease in the future.
By taking part in a clinical trial, as a patient of the Eye and Ear hospital you can contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and, in some cases, to improved health for yourself or other patients with the same disease or condition.
Potential benefits can include:
Gaining access to experimental treatments that are not yet available to the public
Obtaining expert care from world leading clinician-researchers
Potential risks can include:
The new treatment, intervention or test may not work for you
There may be unpleasant or serious side effects associated with the new treatment, intervention or test
The need for additional treatment, tests, hospital visits and time
Speak to your treating doctor regarding any potential clinical trials that may be suitable for you.
Open disclosure – what to expect if you experience harm during health care?
If you have any concerns and/or complaints about the research project you are participating in, the way it is being conducted or your rights as a research participant, and would like to speak to someone independent of the project, please contact the Research Manager, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital on
Will only be asked to take part in a research project if it is appropriate for you
Can be sure that your treatment will not be affected if you decide not to take part in a research project
Will receive full information about the project
Will be asked to confirm, usually in writing, that you want to take part
Can change your mind and withdraw from a research project at any stage without your care being affected
Can be sure that your dignity, rights, safety, confidentiality and wellbeing will always be respected
Partnering with Consumers
The Eye and Ear is committed to partnering with consumers in research.
We welcome patients, research participants, and healthcare consumer representative groups to become involved in research design, planning and training.
Please complete the Online Application Form available from the Volunteering website if you would like to be involved as a consumer representative in Eye and Ear research.
Contact Us
The Research Office is the main point of contact for all enquiries in relation to research.
Research Office contact details:
Level 4, 32 Gisborne Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
