Clinical Trials

clinical trial stock photo

 

Overview

 

Clinical trials help doctors and researchers find out whether a trial drug works and is safe to treat a certain condition or group of patients. Every drug must be tested before the public is able to use it, and doctors are able to prescribe it to their patients.

Clinical trials are conducted according to a plan, called a protocol, which describes:

  • the types of patients who may enter the study
  • the schedules of tests and procedures
  • the drugs involved
  • the dosages, or amount of the drug
  • the length of the study
  • what the researchers hope to learn from the study.

Volunteers who participate in the study must agree to the rules and terms outlined in the protocol. Similarly, researchers, doctors, and other health professionals who manage the clinical trials must follow strict rules set by the FDA. These rules make sure that those who agree to participate are treated as safely as possible.