What No-one tells you about clinical trials and why it matters for your care

 Airing: Tuesday 26th May 2026

 7pm ET/11pm UTC/ 4pmPT  (BST 12am Wednesday 27th May 2026)

About the session 

Join us for an informative and supportive discussion Beth Fairman, research nurse at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Canter, and Dave Harrison, a patient living with follicular lymphoma who is currently taking part in a clinical trial.   

Together, they’ll share expert insights with our chief medical officer Dr Mitchell Smith. These real-life experiences will help you better understand the role of clinical trials in developing new treatments and what taking part is really like.  

 Whether you’re living with follicular lymphoma, supporting someone who is, or simply want to learn more, this session is designed to be clear, reassuring, and easy to follow with no prior knowledge needed. 

 In this session, we’ll cover: 

  • What clinical trials are and how they work  
  • Why they’re vital for improving treatment options  
  • How participant safety is carefully managed  
  • What daily life in a trial can look like 
  • How to find trials relevant to you  
  • What questions to ask your healthcare team 
  • How to decide if taking part is right for you 
  • How to feel more confident in conversations with your care team  

 

This is your opportunity to hear both expert guidance and personal experience in a welcoming, easy-to-understand environment. 

About the speakers

Dr Mitchell Smith – Chief Medical Officer, Follicular Lymphoma Foundation 

Dr Mitchell Smith has an extensive educational background, having earned his Medical Degree and PhD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He has also completed several residencies and fellowships, including a Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in NY. Dr Smith’s career has also spanned many years and institutions, including serving as Director of the Lymphoma Program at Fox Chase Cancer Centre and Director of the Lymphoid Malignancy Program at the Cleveland Clinic. Join him as he shares his expert insights throughout our engaging webinar series.  

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Dave Harrison

Dave was diagnosed with stage 4 follicular lymphoma in August 2024. At diagnosis, the disease was advanced and widespread, with severe symptoms including a very large abdominal tumour, bone involvement, and chest pain. Dave was about to start the standard treatment of chemo-immunotherapy when he was offered the chance to take part in a clinical trial of a combination of immunotherapy treatments. 

Taking up this chance has since achieved a complete metabolic response, with no visible signs of active disease, and is now continuing on maintenance treatment. Grateful for the impact of this cutting-edge treatment and the support around him, Dave hopes to share his experience to encourage others living with follicular lymphoma.

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Beth Faiman – Cleveland Clinic, Taussig Cancer Institute

Beth Faiman is a nurse practitioner and clinical researcher at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, where they specialize in caring for patients with blood cancers. With extensive experience in both patient care and research, they are passionate about helping patients understand and access clinical trials as an important treatment option. Beth is a recognized leader in oncology nursing and education, and an experienced speaker who regularly translates complex medical information into practical, patient-friendly insights. A Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Beth is dedicated to advancing cancer care through research, patient-centred practice, and improving awareness and understanding of emerging therapies and clinical trials. 

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Join us

Our webinars are free, interactive, and designed to empower everyone affected by FL. Register today to secure your spot and stay informed on these important discussions.

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By registering your interest, you are consenting to your data being used for FLF programs. For information about how FLF look after your data, please visit: www.theflf.org/privacy-policy  

This webinar series is supported by sponsorship from AstraZeneca, Genmab, AbbVie and Incyte.

All of the above have had no influence on, control of, nor input into the development or performance of the webinar series.