Clinical researchers serve the public in many different ways. They improve treatment options available to millions of Americans by enhancing medication efficacy; they generate significant scientific data; and they provide care to many people who otherwise could not afford to visit with a doctor. Researchers in the clinical study community also build upon previously obtained data and the studies of drug manufacturers to improve future technologies for generations to come.
There are a variety of new advancements that are shaping the future of modern medical treatment:
One particularly exciting update in medical technology was co-developed by OCRC. An innovative dialysis machine (small enough to be transported to patients’ homes) will be available in the United States soon. Already in use in Europe, this machine will improve the access of hemodialysis treatment to patients with kidney disease, kidney cancer and other serious illnesses.
Clinical study design comprises the quantity of study volunteers, their segmentation based on varying factors, and their treatment throughout the clinical trial process. Study design is a key component of clinical trials; the treatment of all patients directly impacts the statistical validity of data.
The focus on the treatment of clinical trial groups has lead to certain researchers advocating for more flexibility in clinical trials. “When developing products in diseases with emerging new knowledge or regulations, a sponsor needs to be able to adjust knowledge from both within a trial and outside a trial.” Flexibility in this case, gives the researcher an opportunity to incrementally adjust the study design and further hone results.
Study group assignment has also been comprehensively improved in recent years. Researchers have found many benefits to randomized assignment versus observational assignment, based on characteristics like gender, age, race, etc. The randomized method has been found to yield more reliable results than observational study assignments.
Medical research improves every year, and with that advancement comes new data for researchers to leverage. Open knowledge accessibility speeds up new drug and medical device development as well as enhancing patient safety.
It is important to note that all patient data is protected and treated with the upmost concern for privacy. Learn more about patient data privacy and policies here.
