The Children's Research Centre (CRC) was established in June 1999 and is supported with funding provided through the Starship Foundation. It is a place where researchers who are engaged in children's health research can carry out a range of study activities in a supportive and well-equipped environment.

Located on level three of Starship, the CRC has a nurse co-ordinator and a part-time statistician. Over 2400 children have attended the CRC to be part of research activities from a range of children's services including:

• medical
• nursing
• surgical
• therapy
• orthopaedic
• emergency department

 
What is Clinical Research?

Starship encourages staff to undertake research. Doing research helps people to think more about what they are doing and come up with new ideas. The research in Starship is mainly what is called clinical research. All research carried out in Starship has to be approved by an Ethics Committee before it can start.

Clinical research includes such things as:

• How well a drug or special food works
• How the human body works when it is well and when it is sick
• What it is like for children and their families to experience illness
• New laboratory tests that help us become better at knowing about illness
• Why some people get some illnesses but others do not
• How we can work better to help people remain health
• About a specific disease - how it affects people and what can help them.

Who takes part in research?

While your child is in Starship you may be asked if you or your child want to be part of a research project. You may also be asked after you leave the hospital. Each project has a protocol (detailed plan) that includes guidelines explaining who can take part. For example, your child may have to have a certain health problem or a laboratory test abnormality. If your child fits the guidelines for the project and you are interested, then the researcher will explain the project to you and provide you with a written explanation of the research project. 

How do I decide whether my child should take part?

Read the information sheet about the study thoroughly and if you have any questions at all - ask about it.The decision to take part is yours. It is not necessary to decide right away. You might want time to think about it and discuss it with your family/whanau. It is important to understand what is involved. Please ask questions as it is important you have a clear understanding of what the research project involves. 

What happens if I do not want my child to take part?

Tell the researchers that you are not interested in taking part. At any time before or during the research project, you or your child can decide not to be involved. This will not affect the care that you or your child receives at Starship now or in the future. You do not have to give a reason for not being involved.  

What about informed consent?

If you decide to take part in a research project, you will be given an informed consent form and an information sheet. These will explain:

• why the project is being done
• the guidelines for who is in the project
• what happens during the project and how much time it will involve
• what information will be collected
• any possible side effects or discomforts
• any tests, if any, are required
• how your privacy will be protected
• what happens to the results of the project
• who to contact if you would like more information.

You, and perhaps your child (if old enough), will be asked to sign the consent form. Your signature means you have read and understood the information given to you and that your involvement is voluntary, that any information that is collected will be kept confidential and you know who to contact if you have any questions.

What happens if I have any questions or concerns later on?

The information sheet given to you will have the name and phone number of the contact person who knows about the research project.