What is Clinical Research?
Unveiling the Crucial Role of Clinical Research: Illuminating Medical Breakthroughs and Patient Well-being
Clinical research is a component of medical and health research intended to produce knowledge valuable for understanding human disease, preventing and treating illness, and promoting health. Clinical research involves patients that volunteer to help CRA and our partners understand specific medicines and conditions better. Every single drug, therapy, tool, or technique we use in medicine today, has all gone through some version of a clinical trial to prove its efficacy and safety on the patients that need it the most, most importantly to gain approval from the FDA.
There are two main types of clinical research:
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Clinical Trials
Observational Studies
Unlocking Medical Advancements: Exploring the Significance of Clinical Trials in Revolutionizing Healthcare
Clinical trials are what people generally think of when clinical research is mentioned. Clinical trials are voluntary research studies conducted in people and designed to answer specific questions about the safety or effectiveness of drugs, vaccines, other therapies, or new ways of using existing treatments Clinical trials are part of a long, careful process which may take many years to complete. First, doctors study a new treatment in the lab. Then they often study the
treatment in animals. Eventually, after the new treatment or process has shown promise in these first few studies, the physicians then test the treatment in volunteers via a clinical trial. It is important to test drugs and medical products in the people they are meant to help.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials: CRA's Commitment to Equitable Healthcare
CRA works to make sure that people of different ages, races, ethnic groups, and genders are included in clinical trials. Diversity and inclusion in these types of clinical research is of utmost importance to CRA. We work with local physicians and health systems to bring these much needed studies to your local communities. CRA aims to affect positive change in underserved and underrepresented communities as it relates to clinical research and connecting patients with clinical studies and trials.
Clinical Research & Diversity FAQ
Diversity in clinical trials is important to ensure that the results and benefits of research are applicable to a wide range of individuals, including different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It helps address health disparities and ensures equitable access to new treatments and interventions.
Clinical trials historically have had limited representation from certain demographic groups, leading to underrepresentation and potential disparities in healthcare outcomes. Efforts are being made to increase diversity and inclusion in clinical trials to obtain more comprehensive and accurate results.
Several barriers contribute to the underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trials. These barriers can include limited awareness or access to trials, cultural or language barriers, distrust in the medical system, socioeconomic factors, and logistical challenges.
Researchers and organizations are taking steps to enhance diversity in clinical trials. This includes engaging with diverse communities, addressing cultural and language barriers, increasing awareness about trials, providing transportation or other logistical support, and fostering trust through community partnerships.
Clinical trials are increasingly focused on addressing health disparities by specifically targeting underrepresented populations and conditions that disproportionately affect certain groups. Researchers are working to ensure that the benefits of research are equitably distributed among all communities.
Regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have recognized the importance of diversity in clinical trials and have issued guidance to encourage inclusivity. They emphasize the need for diverse representation in study populations to support more inclusive healthcare outcomes.
Individuals can contribute to increasing diversity in clinical trials by actively seeking information about trials, discussing participation with their healthcare providers, and spreading awareness within their communities. By participating in trials themselves, individuals can help advance medical knowledge and improve healthcare for all.
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There are two main types of clinical research: clinical trials and observational studies. Clinical trials, which are also called interventional studies, test the safety and effectiveness of medications, procedures and tools in actual patients that have agreed to join the study. Observational studies are studies that aim to identify and analyze patterns in medical data or in biological samples, such as tissue or blood provided by study participants. In both types of studies, participation is completely voluntary and those participating have the option to leave or stop for any reason, at any time in the process.
