Clinical Trials Conducted in the United States and Around the World
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more attention is paid to the development of new drugs and vaccinations. New drugs and vaccines require many years and steps to be able to distribute to the public, and clinical trials play a significant role in the process. A research study is a scientific way to improve or develop new methods of health care. In this post, we will introduce clinical trials currently being conducted in the United States and how you can participate in them.
1. Active Clinical Trials
Currently, information about clinical trials currently conducted are open to the public at ClinicalTrials.gov (link to: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home. This is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical trials conducted around world which operated by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As of July 2022, there are a total of 422,201 registered clinical studies on ClinicalTrials.gov. Of those studies, 32% of them are recruiting in the United States only, and 5% are for the US and non-US populations.
The purpose of clinical trials is not only to develop new drugs, but also to compare the effects with existing drugs and to see how they interact with other drugs. In addition to medications, there are also study such as investigating the effects and harm of e-cigarettes to the human body.
2. First Step of a Clinical Trial: Phase 1 Trial
Phase 1 of a clinical trial, which administers the investigational drugs to human volunteers for the first time, is a very important step to assess the safety of the drug.
How the drug is digested and excreted in the body is analyzed along with the side effects and safety of the drug. When it comes to clinical trials, you may assume it is unsafe or risky. However, universal ethical rules (DECLARATION OF HELSINKI) are set out for doctors and researchers to follow. They must follow strict laws and public institution along with pharmaceutical companies to minimize the risk. The doctor is obligated to explain to the medical study participants the purpose of the study drug, possible side effects, etc., and the study can only be started after the participants are informed about the study and sign the consent documents. You can withdraw your consent and decline participation at any time during the clinical trial.
3. How to Participate in a Clinical Trial
There are two main ways to participate in a clinical trial. The first option is to enroll with medical institutions conducting trials, and the other is to search online for ongoing clinical trials at research organizations that are recruiting for volunteers (healthy or non-healthy).
Here at Altasciences LA (a clinical research organization located in Southern California), we are always recruiting for healthy male and female volunteers to take part in our paid clinical research trials. Please feel free to contact our Recruitment line at 1 866 461-2526 to learn more about our current medical studies.
Summary
Clinical trials play a significant role in development of new medicines and treatments and being conducted across the world. Phase 1 clinical trials cannot be done without you, the volunteers. All clinical trials follow strict safety measurement and volunteers' privacy, and volunteer rights are protected by HIPAA. If you're interested in taking part in a paid clinical trial in Los Angeles or the Orange County area, click here to see some of our current studies.
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