What are clinical studies and why are they important?
Researchers and doctors are always looking for better ways to treat health conditions. Clinical studies test new treatments and medicines to make sure they are safe and effective, helping improve care in the future.
Clinical studies are an important step in finding new and better treatments for people around the world!
All clinical studies need to pass three clinical study phases: Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. The studies that are available on this website are Phase 3 studies. Phase 3 studies have the largest number of people with a specific disease or condition (hundreds or thousands). Phase 3 studies aim to gather more information about the safety of the study treatment and how it works in people. Phase 3 studies are the final step before a new treatment or medicine is approved for use by the public.
Studies are often randomized. This means that participants are placed in a treatment group by chance, similar to flipping a coin. Some participants get a placebo, which is a “dummy” medication that looks the same as the study treatment but has no active medicine. These studies are usually blinded, meaning neither you nor your study doctor will know which group you have been placed in.
If you decide to join a clinical study, you will be asked to:
- Take the treatment assigned to you
- Have regular medical tests to check how the treatment is working
- Attend regular visits so doctors can check your health
- Your study doctor will explain all study details, including how long the study will last, what it means to take part, and the potential risks and benefits. You are encouraged to ask any questions about the study to help you decide if you would like to take part.
- You will be asked to read and sign an Informed Consent Form. The ICF includes information about:
- What participation in the study involves
- Your rights as a study participant
Positives
- Regular health check-ups and close monitoring by your study doctor
- Access to new treatments and tests at no cost to you
- Helping in the search for new and better treatments
- In some cases, you may have access to the treatment after the study is complete
Negatives
- There is a chance you could be given a placebo
- You may experience side effects
- You will need to make time for health check-ups
- You may not see any improvements in your health