Other types of clinical research

Clinical trials are not the only type of clinical research studies. You may also be invited to get involved in behavioural research or translational research.

Learn more about:

• Behavioural research
• Psychosocial research
• Translational research

Behavioural research

Behavioural researchers try to understand why people behave in the way that they do. They study the characteristics, lifestyles and social situations of different people to see how these factors may affect the risk of developing or surviving cancer. They then try to develop ways to prevent or change behaviours that might increase cancer risk or lower survival outcomes. Behavioural researchers also look at the emotional and social impacts of cancer on the person with cancer, as well as the impact on their family and friends.

If you take part in a behavioural research study, you may be asked to fill in surveys or be interviewed about your lifestyle, including your eating, drinking, smoking and exercise habits.

You may also be able to take part in a program aimed at changing these behaviours. For example, you might be offered free counselling, an exercise class or a session on healthy eating. The aim of the programs may be to reduce cancer risk or to improve how you cope with the impacts of cancer.

Psychosocial research

One area of behavioural research is called psychosocial research. This looks at how cancer affects people emotionally, psychologically and socially. In cancer care, this is sometimes called psycho-oncology.

Researchers try to understand how patients and carers cope emotionally at different stages of a disease. They develop and test ways to improve people’s ability to deal with the impacts of cancer.

Translational research

Translational research forms a link between laboratory and clinical research, or between clinical research and standard treatments. It aims to get new treatments or medical approaches into practice quickly. It is sometimes called “bench to bedside” research because laboratory research results are directly used to create new therapies and tests. The findings of behavioural and psychosocial research are also translated into information resources for people affected by cancer.

There can also be “bedside to bench” research – for example, hospitals, treatment centres and health professionals may collect information about how well a treatment works to help laboratory researchers work out what to study next.

Video: What are clinical trials?

Medical Oncologist Dr Elizabeth Hovey explains what clinical trials are and how they can improve cancer treatment.