Your guide to clinical trials
Discover the Role of Clinical Trials in Advancing Medicine
A clinical trial is a research study involving human participants that aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of new medical treatments, drugs, or devices.
These trials follow a structured protocol and are conducted in distinct phases, each designed to address specific research questions.
Participants may receive either the experimental treatment, standard therapies, or a placebo, enabling researchers to compare outcomes and identify the most effective options.
If you’re interested in learning more about clinical trials and the vital role you can play in advancing medical science, you’re in the right place!
Why Clinical Trials Matter
Clinical trials are essential for advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care, as they provide the necessary data to develop new therapies and ensure they are both safe and effective for widespread use. Clinical trials are conducted for these main reasons:
- 1
To determine whether a new drug or device is safe and effective for people to use.
- 2
To learn how to safely use a treatment in a population for which the treatment was not previously tested.
- 3
To study different ways to use treatments so that they will be more effective and easier to use.
Clinical Trial Phases
Before a medication can be sold in pharmacies or prescribed by your GP, it must pass through several rigorous development phases. Each phase is crucial to ensure that by the time a medication reaches you, it is both safe and effective for its intended use. This is an overview of the clinical trial phases.
- Phase 1
Testing Safety
These initial trials involve a small group of participants, sometimes called healthy volunteers. The main goal is to determine if the treatment is safe.
- Phase 2
Assessing Effectiveness
If a drug proves safe in Phase 1, it advances to Phase 2. This phase involves more participants to evaluate if the drug effectively treats the intended condition.
- Phase 3
Confirming Results
Often the final step before a drug can be approved, Phase 3 trials involve even larger groups to confirm the drug’s safety and effectiveness. This phase ensures the drug works as intended for its specific use.
- Phase 4
Ongoing Safety and Efficacy
After a drug receives approval and is available for prescription or over-the-counter use, Phase 4 trials begin. These trials monitor the long-term effects and continue to assess the drug's safety and effectiveness. They also explore additional questions about the treatment to better understand its benefits and any further potential.
Would you like to take part in clinical research?
Your participation matters. Join our participant database to be notified of upcoming studies.
Find out more