Clinical Research Studies
Clinical research studies aim to learn new and effective ways to improve health care. Clinical research studies invite volunteers who participate in carefully conducted investigations. The studies include trials that test new treatments and approaches in curing a disease. Clinical research receives volunteers who have known health problems and want to participate to understand their disease better and find a cure. While people suffering from some disease are likely candidates for clinical research studies, the research at times require healthy patients as well. Healthy volunteers help in developing new knowledge rather than finding cures for existing problems. Healthy volunteers always play a vital role in medical research.
Clinical research studies follow protocols which help in safeguarding participants’ health and address all queries related to the procedure. The protocol includes eligibility of the participant, research procedure, tests and dosage of the medicines involved. It also includes documenting the research procedure and the results that it produced. Clinical research studies comprises of a research team mostly led by a doctor. The team monitors participants’ stats to determine the safety and effectiveness of the trial. The process requires informing the volunteer about the key factors involved in the study. After getting the details about the trial, a consent form has to be filled by the participant. The consent form explains the risks involved as well as the potential benefits of the research. Participants can also withdraw from the trial if it becomes too much for them to handle.
Types of clinical research studies
There are various types of clinical research studies including:
In Treatment Trial the research team tests the new treatments, different combinations of medicines, along with new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy.
Prevention Trials tests better ways to prevent diseases in a healthy patient while at the same time lowering risks of a recurring disease. It usually involves vaccines, vitamins or lifestyle changes.
This clinical research studies involve finding better tests and procedures for diagnosing a particular disease or condition.
To cure a disease it is necessary to diagnose it first. Screening Trials are conducted to find the best way to detect certain disorders or health conditions.
Clinical Research Studies of this kind explore the best ways to improve the quality of living of patients with a chronic illness. It tests different techniques to reduce patients’ discomfort.
A genetic study understands and identifies how sometimes genes and illness can be related and cause certain diseases. It looks into the ways a disorder can develop and through those findings come up with treatments.
Phases of clinical research studies
Clinical Research Studies involve several phases that help in evaluating the research. In the first phase, experiment usually in the form of drug or treatment, is conducted on a small group of people to evaluate safety and side effects. Next it is tested on a larger group to further evaluate safety. Volunteers are again increased to confirm treatment’s effectiveness. Finally when the drug or treatment is launched it is regularly monitored to track safety.
Clinical Research Studies are usually funded by organizations and individuals. With the help of these studies many medical breakthroughs and cures have been discovered, ensuring quality of life. These studies give hope or possibilities to doctors and patients, that didn’t exist otherwise.