At Lilly, we want to continue developing and making medicines to help people of all ages, including children and young people living with different medical conditions. If you are considering a clinical trial as a care option for a young person, it’s important to have access to information that will help you make an informed decision. By taking part in a clinical research study, your child can help to make a difference. Click here to view pediatric trials.
A pediatric clinical trial is a research study that tests a medicine or therapy. Clinical trials are also called clinical studies, or clinical research studies. Pediatric clinical trials can include children of all ages, from birth up to the age of 18 years.
Clinical research helps us answer questions about the medicine or therapy being studied, like does the medicine or therapy work? and is it safe?
The path to developing a new medicine or therapy is a long journey that can have stops and starts along the way. Different trials can follow different processes and can vary in length. However, the research team will make sure the medicine or therapy is thoroughly tested during all stages of the clinical trial.
This booklet is designed for young people aged 12 to 17 years. It can also be used by adults who want to learn about clinical research studies, or adults can use it as a resource to help children. It contains key clinical trial information, including why clinical research is important, what is involved, and how to sign up. Click here to read the booklet.
Who is Involved in Clinical Trials?
Many people are involved in designing and developing clinical trials, and most importantly, making sure that participants are safe throughout the clinical trial. In this video, you can learn about who is involved in clinical trials, their roles, and how trials are conducted safely. Watch 'The Clinical Research Team is Similar to a Sports Team' video.
Many people are involved in designing and developing clinical trials, and most importantly, making sure that participants are safe throughout the clinical trial. In this video, you can learn about who is involved in clinical trials, their roles, and how trials are conducted safely. Watch 'The Clinical Research Team is Similar to a Sports Team' video.
Clinical trials for children and young people are designed to:
Before deciding if a clinical trial is a good option for you or your child, it’s important to learn more about clinical trials, including risks and benefits. You can read about clinical trial journeys below and find some more helpful general information on our Clinical Trial Information page.
What to Expect - Before the Trial
Informed Consent and Assent
Before you and your child decide if participation in a clinical trial is the best option, you will spend time with the study team. You will have the opportunity to review possible risks and benefits and ask any questions you or your child may have about the trial. This process is called informed consent:
You can learn more about the basics of clinical trials, including who can participate, why people participate and who is involved in the ‘Understanding Clinical Trials’ information sheet.
Lifestyle Impact
Before your child begins a clinical trial, you will need to consider the potential impact it may have on your family’s lifestyle. Your child being a trial participant may require:
What to Expect - During the Trial
Questions to Ask the Study Team
The Study Team will be there to answer all of your questions and communicate with you and your child throughout the clinical trial. Below are some questions you might want to ask. You can also download the Clinical Trial Questions in a printable format.
Lilly carries out research for different medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, immune system conditions and pain. Click the arrows or swipe to see the four different research areas.
Cancer
To learn more about cancer research, visit our Cancer page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Cancer Trials.
To learn more about cancer research, visit our Cancer page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Cancer Trials.
Diabetes
To learn more about diabetes research, visit our Diabetes page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Diabetes Trials.
To learn more about diabetes research, visit our Diabetes page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Diabetes Trials.
Immunology
To learn more about immunology research, visit our Immunology page.
You can also view pages about different immune system conditions, including Crohn’s + Ulcerative Colitis, Dermatology and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Immunology Trials.
To learn more about immunology research, visit our Immunology page.
You can also view pages about different immune system conditions, including Crohn’s + Ulcerative Colitis, Dermatology and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Immunology Trials.
Pain
To learn more about Pain research, visit our Pain page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Migraine Trials.
To learn more about Pain research, visit our Pain page.
To find trials that are looking for participants, view pediatric Migraine Trials.
Want to learn more about clinical trials for children and young people? Maybe you’ve wondered why scientists need clinical trials, how they work, and what happens if you join one? Watch the cartoons below to find out more!
Cody Shares His Clinical Trial Experience
Meet the stars of the cartoon: Cody, Rose, and MEDBOT. A classmate of Cody and Rose is participating in a clinical trial. Last year Cody was in a clinical trial, so he knows a lot about them.
Meet the stars of the comic: Cody, Rose, and MEDBOT. A classmate of Cody and Rose is participating in a clinical trial. Last year Cody was in a clinical trial, so he knows a lot about them.
Finn and Iris Report on Clinical Trials
Meet the stars of the cartoon: Juan, Finn, and Iris. Juan is a striker on the school's soccer team, and he is also in a clinical trial. His classmates Finn and Iris did some research because they wanted to teach the whole school about clinical trials.
Meet the stars of the comic: Juan, Finn, and Iris. Juan is a striker on the school's soccer team, and he is also in a clinical trial. His classmates Finn and Iris did some research because they wanted to teach the whole school about clinical trials.
In this section you will find resources for parents, guardians, children and young people who want to learn more about clinical trials. Children and young people may need the help of an adult to understand some of these resources.
Listening to Children’s Voices | Patient-Centric Trial Design
In this blog we learn about iCAN, the advisory network that help provide a voice for children and families in medicine, research, and innovation. Learn about how listening helps us to make drug development more patient-centric.
In this blog we learn about iCAN, the advisory network that help provide a voice for children and families in medicine, research, and innovation. Learn about how listening helps us to make drug development more patient-centric.
Progress in Clinical Trial Design for Childhood Cancer
Some pediatric cancer clinical trials use a master protocol design. Learn more about this type of trial and advances in the area in driving progress against childhood cancer.
Some pediatric cancer clinical trials use a master protocol design. Learn more about this type of trial and advances in the area in driving progress against childhood cancer.
How we Support and Inform Children in Clinical Trials
It's important that children are given information to help them understand what will happen during a clinical trial they are participating in. Read a blog about how health literacy principles improve pediatric assent.
It's important that children are given information to help them understand what will happen during a clinical trial they are participating in. Read a blog about how health literacy principles improve pediatric assent.
iCAN Blog
This blog is about our partnership and experiences with the International Children's Advisory Network (iCAN). Read more about some key themes from the summit.
This blog is about our partnership and experiences with the International Children's Advisory Network (iCAN). Read more about some key themes from the summit.
A Caregiver's Story
Meet mother and daughter team, Rubecca and Anjali. Anjali developed psoriasis as a child and Rubecca is her caregiver.
In this video, we learn about their introduction to clinical trials from one of Anjali’s doctors. We also find out about the factors they considered before they decided to participate and their experiences as research participants. Download video transcript.
Meet mother and daughter team, Rubecca and Anjali. Anjali developed psoriasis as a child and Rubecca is her caregiver.
In this video, we learn about their introduction to clinical trials from one of Anjali’s doctors. We also find out about the factors they considered before they decided to participate and their experiences as research participants. Download video transcript.