FAQs

A clinical trial investigates if a medicine or treatment is safe and effective in humans for the treatment of a disease or medical condition. Trials are conducted by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in collaboration with independent investigators (our NZCR research doctors). Results from clinical trials are a crucial stage in making new medicines available for patients worldwide. Clinical trials involve healthy participants and patient populations. 

There are several phases in clinical trials:

   Phase 1: Focuses on the safety and tolerability of a trial medicine, usually involving healthy people. 

   Phase II: Focuses on the effectiveness of the trial medicine in treating the intended disease, involving patients with the condition. 

   Phase III: Focuses on safety, effectiveness and determining the right dose to treat the disease, with a large diverse population. 

All NZCR trials are approved by New Zealand regulatory authorities. 

For more information read our blog: The Clinical Research Process to bring a new Drug to Market  

Participating in a clinical trial can involve taking an investigational medication, trying out a potential new treatment or device, or following a specific health regimen. 

Step 1: Register your interest to play a vital role in improving the lives of people worldwide.   

Step 2: Once you are registered, choose a trial from the current trials available or we will match you to a suitable trial. 

Step 3: One of the team will give you a pre-screening call to find out more about your health and lifestyle. We walk you through the purpose of the trial, what’s expected of you, any possible risks or benefits involved and answer any questions you may have about the trial. 

Step 4: If you are eligible for a trial, you will be invited to attend a screening visit at our facility and undertake a health check and medical tests to confirm your eligibility to take part in the trial. Before any health checks, you will be asked to sign a consent form confirming you are participating freely and understand all aspects of the trial. The initial screening usually can take from 1-3 hours depending on the trial criteria. 

Step 5: Participation in a trial can involve taking an investigational medication or trying out a potential new treatment or device. The trial can involve overnight stays from 2 nights up to 20 nights, plus clinic visits where our medical team closely monitors your health and progress. It is important for safety reasons that you attend all the clinic visits as prescribed by the research staff. Participation in clinical trials is voluntary – you can withdraw from the trial at any time. 

Step 6: On completion of the inpatient stay you will need to visit our clinic for check-ups and to provide updates on how you’re feeling.    

Step 7: On completion of the trial, there may be a final check-up to see how you’re doing. You’ll be informed about the overall study results and how your participation has contributed to medical research.  And of course, you will be reimbursed for your participation.

To ensure your safety, all clinical trials conducted in New Zealand must be approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) and the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC). 

There is always some risk associated with taking any medicine and there may be an additional risk in taking any potential new medicines.  

All known and potential risks will be discussed with you at the initial screening visit and are documented in the informed consent form. You have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. 

There is no way to predict how an individual may react to any medication. Whilst health risks and side effects are pre-determined during pre-clinical and early clinical trials, side effects can differ from person to person.  

Early-phase clinical trials involve many rigorous safety assessments and constant medical supervision. 

For more information read our blog: How are Participants Protected during Clinical Trials?

We reimburse you for the time taken to participate in a clinical trial. This includes payment for trial participation and can include travel costs. The reimbursement amount for trial participation is based on the time involved with taking part in the trial and the number of procedures.  Our payments are usually made at the end of the trial and on completion of the required forms. Trial payments are made as close to completion of your trial as possible.  

• • We are required to tax your reimbursement payment. To meet this obligation, we require participants to complete an IR330C. If you need information about taxation, please contact an independent adviser as we cannot provide advice.  

• • To ensure prompt payment, please complete the NZCR Payment & Travel Form  and forward the payment details and tax forms to paymentforms@nzcr.co.nz as soon as possible. 

1. You will receive two emails. The first email will let you know your username (starts with VP-) and will ask you to create your password. 
2. The second email contains a link to the eConsent form if you wish to open it later. However, once you set up your password in Step 1, it will direct you to the eConsent page for the trial you wish to join. 
3. Once you have entered your username and password, you will be redirected to the welcome page. Click on eConsents. Note: If you have visited the portal to sign a different eConsent form in the past, please use your old password. Otherwise, please click the “Forgot your password?” link and enter your username (starts with VP-). 
4. You will see a list of all the consent forms you need to complete (starting with IC-). Click on each of the consent forms. 
5. Navigate through the different sections of the consent form. It will start with a Main Consent Form. Depending on your trial, it may or may not contain Optional Consent Forms.  
6. If it includes Optional or Future Trial Consent Forms, you need to complete all forms by either accepting or declining the optional consent forms. Note: you cannot sign/view the optional consent forms if you decline the main form. 
7. Each consent form contains a PDF. Scroll down through to the bottom of the document. At the end of the PDF, there will be an option for you to either Continue, Decline, or Save for Later. 
8. If you wish to Continue, enter your username (starting with VP indicated in the first email sent to you) and enter your password. Click save. Your signature ID will be generated.  
9. Click the next arrow button > at the bottom right to complete the rest of the consent forms. If you do not wish to continue with the trial, click decline and save. 
10. Once you have completed all the consent forms you can now close the window. Once the doctor has also signed the forms, you will receive a copy of the finalised consent form as well.  
11. You can now close the window, and you will no longer be able to access the portal unless you have other pending consents to sign.  
12. If you have chosen to Save for Later, please login at a suitable time to complete the consent forms. 

If you have visited the portal to sign a different eConsent form in the past, please use your old password. Otherwise, please click the “Forgot your password?” link and enter your username (starts with VP-).

Your username is also provided in the emails you received when setting up. Save your password and username just like any regular login as, if you do studies with us again in the future, it can speed up the process. 

Participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any stage, for any reason. 

If you are a patient referred to participate in a clinical trial by your doctor, withdrawing from the trial will not affect your ability to access your usual care.  

We value the trust and confidence you place in us by providing your personal information. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of individual’s personal and health information.  

Your personal information may be viewed by NZCR team members in strict accordance with NZCR’s privacy procedures, and we do not share your personal information with any parties not directly involved in the trial. Information provided to clinical trial sponsors, or their representatives, is usually de-identified. The use of your information is clearly explained in the informed consent form.  

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information. 

To gain advice related to volunteer rights in a clinical trial, you may contact the Health and Disability Advocacy Service on 0800 11 22 33. 

During the initial stages of the trial, you will be staying at our modern facilities. During your overnight stay, you will sleep in a hospital bed in a ward-type situation with the beds separated by curtains.  

The social areas provide ample space to stretch out, relax or make use of the quiet areas to catch up on work or study. 

NZCR provides all your food, beverages, towels and bedding. 

We provide standardised meals with a meat or vegetarian option.  

You are not able to bring any food or beverage into the unit (including water bottles and snacks). This is important as the monitoring of food and drink is part of the trial conditions. During the trial the NZCR team may request a random bag check to ensure you do not have any prohibited items. 

Please bring personal toiletries and casual clothing for the length of your stay in a small bag – we do not have storage for large suitcases. For your safety, you must wear footwear when moving about. 

We have unlimited Wi-Fi so please bring your devices. Please bring headphones and remember your chargers. 

We are unable to provide onsite parking. Transport options will be discussed with you during the screening process. Please visit our PARKING section for more information. 

We have rules for staying at the facility to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Please ask our friendly staff if you are unsure. 

All participants and any visitors must sign into the facility. 

To protect you, other trial participants, and NZCR staff’s privacy, photography or filming by cameras, cell phones, or any other digital device is strictly NOT permitted. 

For more information read our blog: A Day in the Life of a Study Participant 

During your overnight stay, you will sleep in a hospital bed in a ward-type situation with the beds separated by curtains for privacy. This is for safety reasons with the nursing station in the middle of the ward.  

You have full access to the social areas for reading, watching TV with streaming services and entertainment options such as PlayStation, board games or origami.  

We also have quiet zones for reading, work or study. 

NZCR provides all your meals (a standardised meal with a meat or vegetarian option), beverages, towels, bedding and laundry facilities. We can provide earplugs or eye masks if required. 

Free Wi-Fi, streaming services, PlayStation and a range of other activities are available. It’s a great opportunity to play cards or board games with other participants! 

Expert tip! What not to bring! 

“Don’t bring any food or your own snacks or drinks. It can mess with the trial. The food is good and there’s plenty of it.” 

Please bring: 

• • Casual clothing for the length of your stay (we have laundry facilities so no need to bring lots of clothes for longer stays). 
  • Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, sanitary products, toothbrush, toothpaste, contacts and glasses etc.). 
  • Shoes and/or slippers (you must wear footwear when moving about). 
  • Personal devices, laptop, mobile, headphones and chargers. 
  • Any work or study materials. 

Please use a small bag if possible – we do not have storage for large suitcases.  

Expert tip! What should I bring with me? 

“As a frequent participant, I have found some people like to bring in their own pillows and blankets (I know I do) to make your stay more comfortable.  You may also find it useful to bring earplugs and an eye mask as this can help with sleeping. And if you have favourite slippers and hoodie, then bring those too.”  

At our facility, we provide nutritious, balanced meals as part of your stay with us. Each meal is carefully prepared to meet the dietary guidelines of the trial, and you’ll have the option to choose between a meat or vegetarian meal.  

While we do offer these two options, we currently don’t provide vegan meals, and no outside food or beverages are allowed to be brought into the unit. 

In some trials, the timing and portion of your meals are a key part of the trial conditions. For these, you are required to finish all of your meals within a set timeframe.  

Our meals are designed to be protein-rich, with a healthy balance of carbohydrates and other nutrients, served in standard portion sizes to support both your health and the trial’s needs. 

For many people, food preferences can be quite personal, and we get a lot of comments on the meals. To give you a taste of our participants’ thoughts, here is some of their feedback. 

• • I have been on a couple of trials and the only issue was food and the food was amazing this time around thank you.  

• • I personally felt the portions were a little small. 

• • Everything was great, my only complaint is that the food portions are quite large and sometimes hard to finish. 

Our goal is to ensure you’re well-nourished and comfortable throughout your time with us while meeting the requirements of the trial. 

Your selection for a clinical trial depends on your overall suitability, which includes both your health profile and the results from the various tests done at the screening. These tests are a crucial part of the screening process to ensure your safety and the success of the trial.  

• • Once we receive your laboratory results, our trial team reviews them to confirm you are a good fit for the study. We’ll let you know as soon as possible if you are eligible or not.  

• • If you do not match the criteria for this particular trial, our medical team will be in touch with the reason you are not suitable.  

We run many trials over the year, and one may be right for you, so please continue to keep an eye on our current trials page and your inbox for further updates from us.

The length of time to complete a clinical trial varies depending on the type of medication, trial protocols and other trial criteria. Participation in a trial can involve overnight stays from 2 nights up to 20 nights, plus clinic visits.

Some trials do not require overnight stays and require outpatient visits only. 

Many participants use their time in the clinic to catch up on work, study, or to just relax and recharge.  

Our well-equipped social areas offer a variety of activities, including Sky, Netflix, movie streaming services, PlayStation, and a selection of books for quiet reading. We also provide games, puzzles, and craft packs.  

For longer stays, we often host yoga and meditation sessions, movie nights, and trivia events.  

Yes, but during the overnight stay period of the trial, you won’t be able to leave the clinic to attend work or university.

You can continue working or studying from the clinic, thanks to our privacy pods for online calls, free Wi-Fi, and various areas in the common rooms designed to support your needs. 

If you have work or study commitments that require you to be at an office or campus, we offer short-stay trials and trials that don’t require an overnight stay and consist only of outpatient visits. 

As a reserve participant your role in the trial is important as it ensures we meet our targeted numbers for dosing on the scheduled day and so maintain the trial’s sample size and integrity.   

• • Night Reserve – You’ll stay overnight at NZCR until all the primary participants have been dosed. If the initial participants in the cohort are unable to receive the dose, you’ll be available on-site to step in. Should your assistance not be needed, you’ll be reimbursed $350 (less tax) for your time being on standby at the unit.  

• • Day Reserve – You’ll stay during the day while the primary participants are tested prior to dosing. If the initial participants in the cohort are unable to receive the dose, you’ll be available on-site to step in. Should your assistance not be needed, you’ll be reimbursed $150 (less tax) for your time being on standby at the unit. 

• • Phone Reserve – You’ll be available to be called into the unit if the initial participants and reserves are unable to receive the dose. There is no reimbursement for your time being on standby. 

 All reserve participants are prioritised for subsequent cohorts or alternative trials. 

You can only participate in one trial at a time. There is a standdown period, between trials, usually of 90 days from the end of your previous trial or last dose date. 

When you first arrive, please sign in via our electronic registration kiosk in the entrance foyer or reception. The kiosk will print out your name badge. 

Let the receptionist know you have arrived. You will be asked for your photo ID (driver’s license or passport) and when sign-in is complete, a member of the team will take you to the ward.  

NZCR Auckland:

The Auckland Screening HQ is at 125 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland. Carparks #3, #4, #6, #10, and #11 surrounding the building are available for your use. Carparks #10 and #11 are located down the driveway and all display the NZCR logo. Please be aware that other numbered parks are designated for other tenants.  

NZCR Hamilton:

The Hamilton Screening unit is at Unit B/300 Grey Street, Hamilton East.

There is no on-site parking but there is plenty of on-street parking, the Cook Street carpark is a couple of minutes away or you can catch the #10 or #17 bus stopping at Bus stop ID: 3181 on Grey Street. 

NZCR Wellington:

The Wellington Screening unit is at Level 4/108 The Terrace, Wellington Central.

Car parking is available at the Clifton car park on Rosina Fell Lane or the Wilson Parking at 99 The Terrace. Alternatively, buses #4, 22, and 37 stop on The Terrace at Dalmuir Lane.  

NZCR Christchurch:

The NZCR Christchurch Screening unit is located at Level 3, 264 Antigua St, Christchurch.

There is no on-site parking. There are several Wilsons’ car parks nearby and on-street parking. 

 Metro Bus Timetable 

Please note that NZCR does not reimburse travel or parking expenses for screening appointments.  

When you participate in a trial you will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and parking. Alternatively, you can use Uber for your trial visits, which can be arranged and paid for by NZCR if you live in the metropolitan area. Please discuss transport arrangements with the trial team.  

• • UBER – a link will be sent to you to set up.  

• • Public Transport – is reimbursed with receipts.  

• • Mileage (0.32c/km)/Parking – is reimbursed for those travelling by car. 

If you live outside the metropolitan area, we will discuss your travel costs individually. Any unauthorised use of the UBER account will affect your trial reimbursement. 

Full reimbursement requires the completion of all visits according to trial requirements or if you are withdrawn from the trial for medical reasons, having received trial medication. 

In Auckland, there is a Wilson carpark just up the road and another at Auckland Hospital.