An Overview of Clinical Studies and Participation in Research
Deciding whether to participate in a clinical research study is an important decision. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to ask questions as you decide. Almost daily, research discovers new information about medical conditions and possible therapies.
Cincinnati Children's involvement in research studies is crucial to understanding diseases and developing new ways to understand, prevent or treat health problems.
Cincinnati Children's Clinical Trials Office understands that potential volunteers and their families have questions about the research study process.
If you have additional questions about clinical studies, please contact the Clinical Trials Office.
What is a Clinical Research Study?
A clinical research study (sometimes referred to as a "research trial," "medical research" or "clinical trial") is a carefully designed test of the effects of a medication, medical treatment or device in a specific group of volunteers.
Clinical studies are important in making new treatments available. A study measures a treatment's ability to affect a disease, its safety and its possible side effects.
During these studies, Cincinnati Children's must comply with strict local, hospital and federal guidelines. These guidelines are designed to be sure parents, children and adult participants understand what they agree to do and that the possible benefits of participation are greater than the risks. Each study has different requirements for time involved, clinic visits, treatments, tests and hospital stays.
Why Are Children and Adult Participants Involved in Clinical Studies?
Without clinical studies, physicians cannot know how best to treat infants, children and adults. Treatments for children must be tested in children, just as treatments for adults must be tested in adults.
Until recently, between 70 and 80 percent of medicines used in children were never tested in children for safety, dosage and efficacy. Now, children are no longer an afterthought in the new drug development process.
To learn more information about what is involved with participating in a study, please visit Participating in Clinical Research Studies.
