Cancer Trials Ireland has launched a new mini-documentary, The Life of a Cancer Trial, showing the people, processes and collaboration involved in opening and running a cancer trial in Ireland.
The 10-minute film follows Jed’s experience on the Isa-RVD cancer trial at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Through Jed’s story, the documentary goes behind the scenes to show the wider work involved in bringing a cancer trial from idea to patient recruitment, treatment, monitoring, data collection and sharing results.
Cancer trials can offer patients access to new treatment approaches, while also generating the evidence needed to improve treatment for future patients. However, trials do not simply “open”. They rely on the combined work of patients and families, investigators, research nurses, hospital site teams, trial managers, data teams, monitors, funders, industry partners and international collaborators.
The Life of a Cancer Trial was developed to help make that work more visible.
The film features Jed and Pam van de Poll, Prof Peter O’Gorman, the clinical trials team at the Mater Hospital, and members of the Cancer Trials Ireland team. It uses the Isa-RVD trial as an example of the many steps, safeguards and professional functions involved in delivering a cancer trial, from the early development of the study through to patient consent, treatment, safety oversight, data integrity and the sharing of results.
The project aims to give patients, families, healthcare professionals, partners and the wider public a clearer understanding of what sits behind a cancer trial, and why this work matters. It also highlights the collaboration required to make cancer trials available to patients in Ireland.
Cancer Trials Ireland is very grateful to everyone who gave their time and experience to the project, particularly Jed, Pam and their family, Prof Peter O’Gorman, and the clinical trials team at the Mater Hospital, who were so generous and accommodating throughout the filming process.
Watch the full mini-documentary here: https://youtu.be/FAGqIk9ss-A