{"id":621,"date":"2026-05-07T10:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/?page_id=621"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:24:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:24:35","slug":"research-and-clinical-trials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/research-and-clinical-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Research and Clinical Trials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Gynaecological Oncology Service in NHS Lothian is a research-active department, working closely with the University of Edinburgh and national and international research partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research is a core part of how we improve care. By embedding research into everyday clinical practice, we are able to continually evaluate and improve how gynaecological cancers are diagnosed, treated, and followed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large wp-duotone-unset-1\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2.jpg\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"187\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-1024x187.jpg\" alt=\"Institute for 2\" class=\"wp-image-976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-1024x187.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-300x55.jpg 300w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-768x140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-1536x281.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-1520x278.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2.jpg 1855w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2.jpg\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-976\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2026\/03\/Institute-for-2-300x55.jpg\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What this means for patients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being treated in a research-active department means that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Patients may have access to the latest advances in cancer care, including new treatments, technologies, and personalised approaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Care pathways are informed by the most up-to-date evidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patients may be offered opportunities to take part in research studies or clinical trials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical research helps improve outcomes not only for those taking part, but also for future patients. Many of today\u2019s standard treatments exist because previous patients chose to participate in research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking part in research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participation in research is always optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can decide not to take part, and this will not affect your care in any way<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you do choose to take part, you can withdraw at any point<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All studies are carefully reviewed and regulated to ensure patient safety, confidentiality, and ethical standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patients may have access to the latest advances in cancer care, including new treatments, technologies, and personalised approaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Care pathways are informed by the most up-to-date evidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patients may be offered opportunities to take part in research studies or clinical trials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clinical research helps improve outcomes not only for those taking part, but also for future patients. Many of today\u2019s standard treatments exist because previous patients chose to participate in research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are interested in research opportunities, please let a member of your clinical team know. They can discuss whether any current studies may be suitable for you and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How research is supported<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of our research is made possible through the support of charities and research organisations dedicated to improving outcomes for women with gynaecological cancers. These include organisations such as The Eve Appeal and Cancer Research UK, whose funding supports clinical trials, laboratory research, and patient-centred studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patients and members of the public can also choose to support research locally. Donations to our local research teams help fund new studies, support specialist staff, and accelerate progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Find out more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further information about our research programmes, current studies, and how research is integrated into patient care can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/reproductive-health.ed.ac.uk\/research\">Research | Centre for Reproductive Health | Centre for Reproductive Health<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Gynaecological Oncology Service in NHS Lothian is a research-active department, working closely with the University of Edinburgh and national and international research partners. Research is a core part of how we improve care. By embedding research into everyday clinical practice, we are able to continually evaluate and improve how gynaecological cancers are diagnosed, treated,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":354,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/widewidth.php","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-621","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"simonlloyd","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/author\/simonlloyd\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"The Gynaecological Oncology Service in NHS Lothian is a research-active department, working closely with the University of Edinburgh and national and international research partners. Research is a core part of how we improve care. By embedding research into everyday clinical practice, we are able to continually evaluate and improve how gynaecological cancers are diagnosed, treated,","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/354"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=621"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":977,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/621\/revisions\/977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/gynaecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}