Clinical Trials and Research

Also known as: clinical trials, clinical research, medical research

What are clinical trials and research?

Clinical trials are research studies that are conducted on people. They may be conducted on medical patients, healthy individuals or both. These trials allow researchers to determine the effectiveness of new procedures and treatments. In some cases, they can also allow patients to receive a potentially promising treatment before it becomes available to the public.

What happens during the trial?

The precise nature of the clinical trial can vary widely depending on the procedure or treatment is being studied, the medical condition that is being treated and what phase the trial is in. Clinical trials of new medications typically go through pre-clinical trials and then four phases before they are licensed and approved.

Is any special preparation needed?

The preparation required before beginning a clinical trial varies from one study to the next.. If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, you can ask your health care provider or visit clinicaltrials.gov to find out what you may qualify for.

What are the risk factors?

Again, the risk factors of a clinical trial will vary based on what is being researched. The likelihood of a successful treatment may be lower during a clinical trial than with an approved medication. However, clinical can trials offer the opportunity to try a new promising treatment before it gets approved for general use. Regardless of the type of research being conducted, all trials include some risks, as they are an experimental treatment process.

Reviewed by: Kristen Stabingas, MD

This page was last updated on: November 08, 2023 04:33 PM