The Medical University of South Carolina participates in a large number of clinical research trials. The following section was designed to provide you with additional information on clinical trials both here at MUSC and with other organizations throughout the United States. Clinical Trial information changes on a daily basis. Many Clinical Trials accept only a limited number of participants. Further, new trials are added on a routine basis as they are approved by the various Institutions involved. Therefore, we suggest if you are interested in a specific treatment for a specific condition you check back often in order to review your options. | | |
What are Clinical Trials? |
Clinical trials -- also called clinical studies, experiments, investigations, or research -- test new treatments in people. Progress in medicine simply doesn't happen without clinical trials. Research labs can invent wondrous new drugs and other therapies, and research labs can find marvelous results in lab animals, but without testing in people, a new treatment's true potential for improving human health will never be known.
Clinical trials are studies, managed by government agencies, educational institutions, private not-for-profit organizations, or commercial businesses, to develop, produce, and evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments and therapies for diseases.
What are the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
Individuals who participate in research studies are given the opportunity to benefit from treatments that are not currently available to the general public, but have shown promise in previous research. Risks from participating in a clinical trial vary depending on the study. It is important to understand that not all new treatments produce the desired effect.
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