The only way that treatments for any disorder can be developed, or improve, is
through medical research. But medical research is only possible if people volunteer
to participate in that research.
You can make an important contribution towards medical research by participating in
it--people with specific disorders as well as healthy volunteers are badly needed for
many research projects.
Medical research can be divided into clinical (“bedside”) laboratory based
(“benchside”). Clinical research is medical research that includes people in the
study. Medical research generally includes both patients and healthy volunteers.
When people enroll in clinical research, they are called subjects. Clinical research
includes clinical trials, in which treatment for a given disease is tested. Some
research that includes people (subjects) does not involve a treatment: examples
include determining how common a disease is (epidemiology), learning the typical
course of a disease (natural history study), collecting blood samples for gene
discovery (genetics research), and for may other important purposes.
Before a new treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and made available generally, it must first be evaluated in clinical trials. Clinical trials
are essential for making sure new techniques to fight disease are safe.Clinical trials
are done in Phases. Phase I determines the safety of a drug. If the treatment is
deemed safe, then a Phase II trial is done to help determine the best dosage that will
be used. The next step is a Phase III trial. These can involve thousands of patients
over several years. Phase III trials establish whether or not a treatment is actually
effective. Once a drug passes a phase III trial, the company that developed it can
apply for approval to market the drug. Ask your doctor or the research coordinator
which of these phases the research is in, and decide if that is the role you want to
play. A Phase III trial is more likely to be of benefit to you directly, whereas a Phase I
is generally a more altruistic contribution. And before you participate, you must give
your informed consent: this link explains that process in detail and gives you some
tips that you can print to be sure you ask some important questions.
Despite all of these details, participating in a clinical research project is a very
important contribution that you can make, and also, may be an important way for you
to get treatment that is not otherwise available.
through medical research. But medical research is only possible if people volunteer
to participate in that research.
You can make an important contribution towards medical research by participating in
it--people with specific disorders as well as healthy volunteers are badly needed for
many research projects.
Medical research can be divided into clinical (“bedside”) laboratory based
(“benchside”). Clinical research is medical research that includes people in the
study. Medical research generally includes both patients and healthy volunteers.
When people enroll in clinical research, they are called subjects. Clinical research
includes clinical trials, in which treatment for a given disease is tested. Some
research that includes people (subjects) does not involve a treatment: examples
include determining how common a disease is (epidemiology), learning the typical
course of a disease (natural history study), collecting blood samples for gene
discovery (genetics research), and for may other important purposes.
Before a new treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and made available generally, it must first be evaluated in clinical trials. Clinical trials
are essential for making sure new techniques to fight disease are safe.Clinical trials
are done in Phases. Phase I determines the safety of a drug. If the treatment is
deemed safe, then a Phase II trial is done to help determine the best dosage that will
be used. The next step is a Phase III trial. These can involve thousands of patients
over several years. Phase III trials establish whether or not a treatment is actually
effective. Once a drug passes a phase III trial, the company that developed it can
apply for approval to market the drug. Ask your doctor or the research coordinator
which of these phases the research is in, and decide if that is the role you want to
play. A Phase III trial is more likely to be of benefit to you directly, whereas a Phase I
is generally a more altruistic contribution. And before you participate, you must give
your informed consent: this link explains that process in detail and gives you some
tips that you can print to be sure you ask some important questions.
Despite all of these details, participating in a clinical research project is a very
important contribution that you can make, and also, may be an important way for you
to get treatment that is not otherwise available.
Participating in Medical Research
From Living Older, Living Better! by Katrina Gwinn, MD
Additional Information Sources for You
Information for healthy volunteers interested in
participating in clinical trials:
301-496-4763 or 1-800-892-3276
TTY: 1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
CRVP@mail.cc.nih.gov
http://www.cc.nih.
gov/participate/studies/healthy_vol_prg.shtml
A list of all government sponsored clinical trials:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
Web MDs guide to clinical trials:
http://my.webmd.
com/medical_information/clinical_trials/default.htm
Information for healthy volunteers interested in
participating in clinical trials:
301-496-4763 or 1-800-892-3276
TTY: 1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
CRVP@mail.cc.nih.gov
http://www.cc.nih.
gov/participate/studies/healthy_vol_prg.shtml
A list of all government sponsored clinical trials:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
Web MDs guide to clinical trials:
http://my.webmd.
com/medical_information/clinical_trials/default.htm
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A flat budget for medical research at NIH could
mean fewer treatment options in the future; click
here for more information.
mean fewer treatment options in the future; click
here for more information.
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