clinical trials
What is a clinical trial?
Every publicly available treatment in New Zealand is the product of extensive research – including laboratory studies and clinical trials.
A clinical trial is research involving human participants and can be interventional or observational. An ovarian cancer clinical trial might evaluate a new or existing treatment (or treatments), investigate different surgical techniques, or study behaviours to improve outcomes for people with ovarian cancer.
Clinical trials can offer new or different treatment options for people with ovarian cancer and help doctors make better decisions for people in the future.
A guide to participating in a clinical trial
How to find a clinical trial
There are two main avenues to learn about clinical trials,
- through your gynaecological oncologist or oncologist
- through the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR)
The ANZCTR is an online public registry of clinical trials held at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney.
It is a Primary Registry in the World Health Organization (WHO) Registry Network; this means the registry fulfils criteria for content, quality and validity, accessibility, unique identification, technical capacity and administration.
Other databases
- ClinicalTrials.gov is a resource provided by the US National Library of Medicine that lists trials across 207 countries
- International Clinical Trials Registry Platform hosted by the World Health Organisation
- ISRCTN an international registry of clinical trials
OCFNZ is not affiliated with any of the above databases or clinical trials. Clinical trials may have unique risks and unknown benefits, which the clinical trial researchers and your doctor can help you understand.
Last reviewed: 16 January 2024
Watch our webinar on clinical trials
Medical oncologist Dr Michelle Wilson discusses clinical trials:
- why they are important
- how they work
- things to consider when deciding if a clinical trial is right for you