Increasing Access to Life-Saving Clinical Trials in Lothian

Clinical trials save lives. Not only do they pioneer the medicines and treatments of tomorrow, they also bring real benefits today. They give patients early access to new treatments not yet available to the public, often when standard treatments have stopped working. Thanks to your support, more people with blood cancers in Lothian are now able to access these life-saving opportunities closer to home.

When NHS Lothian’s Haematology team saw their clinical trials portfolio double in size, they needed extra capacity to ensure patients could join trials quickly and locally, whilst also ensuring strict protocols were adhered to for patient safety. Your generosity has helped fund a pilot Clinical Fellow post for one year, to focus solely on the care of clinical trial patients.

That dedicated role has made a remarkable difference. Now, patients who once faced long waits and the stress of travelling to Glasgow or Newcastle to participate in a clinical trial, have a dedicated clinician by their side locally, someone who knows their story and guides them through the journey. Dr Parsons, ‘Jojo’, manages the care of every patient on a trial, building relationships that make a daunting process feel safe and personal.

For one patient, Colin, that difference was life-changing. Diagnosed with myeloma in 2014, he had undergone five different types of treatment. When his cancer returned, he had no standard treatment options left. Then came the opportunity to participate in the trial.

At almost every appointment, he was cared for by Dr Parsons.

The consistency was great,” Colin says. “It took a bit of the worry out of coming to hospital knowing I would be seen by Jojo. It made the process relaxing, which I didn’t expect.” After completing the trial, Colin is now in remission and cancer-free.

Why Your Support Matters

Clinical trials don’t just offer new treatments, they advance research, improve patient experience, and help improve outcomes for future generations. Dr Campbell, Consultant Haematologist, calls it “a complete game changer”. The team can now support up to 50 patients at any time, compared to just 10 before Dr Parsons joined. Four times more people are accessing trials locally, without the challenge of long-distance travel.