In medical research, a clinical trial is a study conducted with patients, usually to evaluate a new treatment. Each study is designed to answer scientific questions and to find new and better ways to help patients certain illness or disease.

The search for successful treatments begins with basic research in laboratory and animal studies. The best results of that research are then tried in patient studies, hopefully leading to findings that may help many people.

Before a new treatment is conducted with patients, it is carefully studied in the laboratory. This research points out the new methods most likely to succeed, and as much as possible, shows how to use them safely and effectively. But, this early research cannot always predict exactly how a new treatment will work with patients.

With any new treatment there may be risk as well as possible benefits. Clinical trials help us find out find if a promising new treatment is safe and effective for patients. During a trial, more and more information is gained about a new treatment, its risks, and how well it may work.

Standard treatments, the ones now being used, are often the base for building new, and hopefully better treatments. Many new treatments are designed on the basis of what has worked in the past, in efforts to improve on the present worked in the past standard methods.

Only patients who wish to participate, take part in a clinical trial. You may be interested in or asked to enter a clinical trial. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about the trial, before making your decision whether or not to participate.