What Are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are new treatments that are still in the testing phase but have been approved for trial in humans. Clinical trials may test a wide range of medical interventions, including drugs, procedures, devices, treatments, preventive care and more.
By participating in clinical trials, you are not only gaining access to tomorrow’s medicine, but you are also helping scientists to develop new ways of preventing, treating or even curing a disease. Clinical trials allow you the opportunity to be one of the first to receive the innovative lines of treatment that are actively being studied by some of the nation’s top physicians.
Are Clinical Trials Safe?
Before treatments are ever brought to the clinical trial stage, they are studied extensively in laboratories. The treatments are then carefully reviewed and must go through an approval process before becoming clinical trials. While in trial, there are many regulations in place by both the Food and Drug Administration and the Office for Human Research Protections, which offer strict, federal guidance and regulations to ensure the safety of all participants.
Additionally, patients must be approved for participation in the clinical trials. While no treatment is guaranteed to be effective, patients are only approved for clinical trials if they meet the criteria that has been outlined by the research team, increasing the chances that the clinical trial will treat or cure the patient’s condition and decreasing the likelihood of severe side effects.
How Do I Know if a Clinical Trial is Right for Me?
Your care team will help you determine if a clinical trial may be right for you. Before you are screened for participation, your provider will have an in-depth conversation with you to ensure that the clinical trial meets the needs and expectations you have for your care. Your health comes first, and it is important to understand the requirements you will have throughout your potential participation in a clinical trial.
Your ability to participate will be based on guidelines set by the research team, which may include:
- Age
- Condition
- Health history
- Genetics
- Current medications
- And more
What Kinds of Clinical Trials Are Available at UofL Health?
Research teams at UofL Health offer a long list of clinical trials for a variety of conditions. These trials are available for patients who are in varying stages of their conditions, across several specialties, including cancer, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pulmonary and more.
To learn more about the clinical trials at UofL Health, talk to your provider about what options may be available for you.
