You've heard of clinical trials before, maybe in March of 2021 during the COVID-19 vaccine trial, or maybe even before that. What you might still be wondering is: What is the purpose of clinical trials why are they so important?
First and foremost, clinical research is the only method of bringing medications from 100-page concepts on paper to pill bottles on the shelves of your local drug store. Every medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, must undergo an extensive clinical trial to test its safety and efficacy before hitting the market.
You're thinking, "Okay, sure. Clinical trials are important. But why should they be important to me?"
Valid question. Read the end of the second paragraph again. Every medication or treatment must undergo a trial. You have seasonal allergies? Thanks to the 340 participants in the 2011 Claritin trial, you have an over-the-counter allergy medication with an updated formula. Feeling congested? Because of the 143 participants in the Vicks VapoRub trial of 2008, you can now open your airways with an easy topical solution. What about a stomachache? We can give credit to the 175 participants of the 2013 Pepto-Bismol trial for providing an improved formula to fight all your belly battles.
Without research trials, and more importantly, without the volunteers who enroll in them, there would not be a single drug widely accessible to the public.
Not only does the product of clinical research improve the lives of millions daily, so does the process. During a clinical trial, participants have the opportunity to gain access to new treatments before they are available to the public. Beyond that, participants who are not in the test group are sometimes treated with the current standard of care. With the potential of being treated with the most responsive medication to date, not to mention being compensated for time and travel in most cases, clinical trials are a remarkable option for those who may be seeking alternative treatment.
Why Do We Do It?
Clinical Research became a pinnacle of ClinOhio President Jim Sanders' life at the age of 5, when he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. After being told that he would never be able to live an active lifestyle, his family found an orthopedic specialist that recommended a new type of therapy that had not yet been tested. Because of this doctor's trial referral, Jim was able to fully recover and went on to run cross country and track in high school.
When asked what the most rewarding part of clinical research is, Jim Responded, "What I find most rewarding is getting to watch people with little to no medical care, and those that do not see improvement with current therapies, have their quality of life improved while participating in a clinical trial."
"What I find most rewarding is getting to watch people with little to no medical care, and those that do not see improvement with current therapies, have their quality of life improved while participating in a clinical trial"
While medical research is important for a variety of reasons, one thing is clear; what matters most is the millions of lives enhanced by the processes and products of clinical trials.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, visit our enrolling studies page or give us a call at (614)-683-5800.
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