what are clinical trials

Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments and known interventions that warrant further study and comparison. These trials generate data on dosage, safety, and efficacy and are conducted only after receiving health authority/ethics committee approval in the country where approval of the therapy is sought. Clinical trials test a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention in people and are the primary way that researchers determine if a new form of treatment or prevention, such as a new drug, diet, or medical device, is safe and effective in people. They are a type of research that studies new tests and treatments and evaluates their effects on human health outcomes. Clinical trials are essential for medical advances and can study new drugs, new combinations of drugs, new ways of doing surgery, new medical devices, and new ways to use existing treatments. These trials are carefully designed, reviewed, and completed, and need to be approved before they can start. People of all ages can take part in clinical trials, including children.