What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research investigations in which people volunteer to test new treatments, interventions or tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage various diseases or medical conditions. Some investigations look at how people respond to a new therapy* and what side effects might occur. This helps to determine if a new therapy works, if it is safe, and if it is better than the therapies that are already available.
Clinical trials might also compare existing therapies, test new ways to use or combine existing therapies or observe how people respond to other factors that might affect their health (such as dietary changes).
Clinical trial therapies include but are not restricted to:
- experimental drugs
- cells and other biological products
- vaccines
- medical devices
- surgical and other medical treatments and procedures
- psychotherapeutic and behavioural therapies
- health service changes
- preventive care strategies and
- educational interventions.
Researchers may also conduct clinical trials to evaluate diagnostic or screening tests and new ways to detect and treat disease.
*The word ‘therapy’ will be used to refer to interventions, treatments and tests throughout this page.
Updated 1 month ago