Cutting edge research helping to improve lives - a case study from the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre to support International Clinical Trials Day 2025
20 May 2025
International Clinical Trials Day 2025: Welsh teams leading advances in health and care research
To mark International Clinical Trials Day 2025, we’re highlighting the outstanding work of research teams across Wales and celebrating the vital contribution they are making in advancing health and care research.
International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated on 20 May each year to recognise the first clinical trial conducted in 1747 by James Lind, a surgeon on the HMS Salisbury, to understand possible causes of scurvy.
Today, we look at how Welsh researchers are continuing this legacy in helping to develop new treatments, therapies and diagnostics to improve patient care.
Public involvement is crucial in advancing medical research and helps provide valuable insights into the most effective ways to treat and manage various health conditions. In the past year, more than 15,000 participants have taken part in nearly 500 studies across over 30 specialties in Wales.
A trial set to transform acute myeloid leukaemia treatment and enhance patients' quality of life
The VICTOR trial at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is comparing two treatments for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). One is intensive chemotherapy, which can cause severe side effects, while the other is a gentler treatment using a medication, which early research suggests may be equally effective with fewer side effects.
If patients don’t respond to the first treatment, or relapse, they can switch to another option within the trial. Crucially, the gentler treatment can be taken at home, reducing the need for long hospital stays and improving quality of life.
The trial team said they are proud that Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre has the highest number of trial registrations in the UK, meaning patients in north Wales now have access to potentially cutting-edge treatments, often from home. This advances AML care in Wales and offers a promising regimen that could enhance both quality of life and life expectancy.
The REMoDL-A trial, another study conducted by the Haematology teams at both Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital, is testing a treatment combination for people with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of blood cancer.
Dr Nicola Williams, National Director of Support and Delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: “I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone involved in delivering clinical trials across Wales. Whether you're a researcher, a patient, an NHS staff member or an industry partner, your efforts are absolutely essential in enabling us to carry out high-quality studies that are not only improving health outcomes but also have the potential to change lives.
“At Health and Care Research Wales, we’re committed to increasing access to clinical trials, building capacity and partnering with organisations to set up trials quickly. This ensures we maximise opportunities for patients, ultimately leading to better care for everyone.”