There are lots of patient and condition-based organizations that promote health awareness in particular months or on specific days of the year.

Today, for example, is ‘Wear it Gold’ day for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Last week we had World Alzheimer’s Day, and there are lots of similar awareness-raising themes throughout the year.

Talking with a patient advocate recently, we discussed whether it was ethical to piggyback onto these occasions to promote participation in relevant clinical trials.

For myself, I’d say it’s only unethical if your sole motivation is to make money from the association.

I fundamentally believe that clinical trials are a good thing – or I wouldn’t be working in this industry – and that encouraging people to take part can be beneficial for patients and society as a whole.

So, for me, promoting awareness of a particular condition can sit comfortably alongside promoting clinical trials for that condition at the same time.