Who Can Handle And Conduct Clinical Trials?
Clinical
Research trials are observations or experimental studies conducted on a
specific number of test subjects to determine the safety profile of a new drug,
medical device, or treatment designed for a particular disease. These studies
generate data on the efficacy of a drug or treatment and are performed by the
associates that are given the best clinical research training. As these studies are experimental, they have many
risks associated with them.
Clinical
trials are only conducted after the treatment or medication has tested
positively on other organisms. The participants for these clinical trials are
generally volunteers to test the medical interventions, including cells, drugs,
surgical procedures, radiological procedures, preventative care, behavioral
treatments, and other biological products.
Clinical
trials are very carefully designed in an orderly manner, reviewed, and
completed. These have to be approved by the respective authorities before they
can start. Based on the type of treatment, age groups are chosen to take part
in these trials. These trials have to strictly adhere to protocol and with
excellent patient counseling to achieve the expected outcomes.
There are four phases
in every clinical trial. These phases are:
- Phase
I: This includes the studies
of the test conducted by the new drugs for the first time on a very small
group of individuals. It is done to evaluate the safety profile, and
dosage ranges, and the adverse effects of the drug.
- Phase
II: This phase studies the
test treatments that were found to be safe in Phase I. This phase includes
a larger group of test subjects to monitor them with respect to the
adverse effects of the drug.
- Phase
III: The studies of this phase
are conducted on a large population in different regions of different
countries. It is often considered to be the actual first step in drug or
treatment approval.
- Phase
IV: These studies are generally
conducted after country approvals, and there is a strong need for further
testing in larger or wider populations. It is done in a larger time-frame
on a mass population.
Who participates in clinical trials?
The
set protocols determine who can take part in clinical trials. Every clinical
trial has set protocols set based on certain criteria. This criterion is solely
based on the objectives of the clinical trial. The possible criteria may
include the possible illness or condition and being healthy without the
specific condition. The exclusion criteria are the factors that restrict people
from taking part in the trial.
There
are several non-specific reasons for a participant to participate in a clinical
trial. Being a part of a clinical research trial enables the participants to
try new treatments before they are widely available. After a participant signs
the consent form, they shall be screened by the clinical staff and
professionals to verify if that participant meets all the required criteria to
be an active part of the clinical research trial. This form of screening
generally involves cognitive and physical tests.
A
large volume of participants is screened to find enough people meeting all the
requirements for the trial. As the eligibility criterion varies from trial to
trial, exclusion from one trial does not exclude other trials.
All
clinical trials must have a diverse group of participants. The participants are
generally a group of individuals of different ethnicities, ages, races, and
sexes. If a particular trial is conducted on similar people, the treatment or
drug may not benefit everyone.
Who conducts clinical trials?
Clinical
studies and clinical research trials are generally conducted by a principal
investigator who is generally a medical professional. These studies are
generally led by a research team that includes doctors, nurses, social workers,
volunteers, and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical Research Courses are sponsored or funded by academic medical centers,
pharmaceutical companies, government organizations, volunteer organizations,
etc. These clinical research studies can occur in many locations, including
hospitals, universities, community clinics, etc. It is dependent on who is
conducting and sponsoring the trial.
The
FDA and other concerned authorities are committed to protecting the
participants of the clinical trials. They also provide reliable information to
those willing to participate as test subjects in these trials. The concerned
authorities ensure that all the protocols are rigid and are complied with to
make sure that no harm comes to the test subjects of the trial. Any form of
unethical behavior results in complete shut-down with strict actions taken
toward the clinical trial hosts.
Although
they are made to minimize the risk associated with clinical trials, some risks
are completely unavoidable. It is because these trials are experimental and may
have unexpected reactions. All the test subjects need to understand the
procedure and protocols and the expected side-effects and situations of unsayable
circumstances before deciding to take part in these trials.
There
are several ways to find out about on-going clinical research trials. Your
doctors and healthcare providers can give you information regarding on-going
trials. One takes an active role in their healthcare by taking part in these
trials. They also contribute to the betterment of the overall health of the
world by taking part in these trials. These trials are certainly beneficial to
all of mankind as they help eradicate illnesses one step at a time.
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