A new trial is developed by a team of doctors, nurses and others with expertise in treating a particular disease. Some trials may be organized and conducted at the local/institutional level, while other trials may be created and administered nationally. The clinical trial team creates a new plan for how children should be treated for a particular disease, such as cancer or a blood disorder. The team uses information from past clinical trials to develop a new plan that will hopefully further improve a child’s chance of survival. After many experts review the trial, it may be sent to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for further review and approval.
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta reviews all available clinical trials and chooses to participate in studies that provide the best treatment options for our patients.
Finally, in order for the Aflac Cancer Center to make a new trial available to our patients and to treat a patient on a study, the trial must be approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRB) at Children’s and Emory University. An IRB is a hospital committee that reviews every new clinical trial to make sure the trial can be conducted safely and that the trial protects the interests and rights of every patient. Each trial is reviewed at many levels by many experts before it is started.