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About Clinical Research Trials
Clinical Research Terms
Placebo: an inactive pill, liquid or powder that has no treatment value when taken. In some clinical trials, a placebo is used in some participants (the control group) to compare the effectiveness of the drug being tested on the other participants (the experimental group). Some studies also require that all participants receive a placebo at some point during the research study.
Control group: those participants in a clinical research trial who receive the placebo or alternative study drug in place of the drug or treatment being tested. Results from the experimental group are compared to those of the control group to get an accurate idea of the drug’s effectiveness.
Blinded study: in this type of study, participants do not know whether they are in the control or experimental group.
Double blind study: in this type of study, neither the doctors, the study staff, or the patient know who is in the control or experimental group.
Institutional Review Board (IRB): a group of physicians, scientists, community advocates and other individuals who makes sure that a clinical research trial is ethical and that participants’ rights are protected.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): a federal government agency whose mission is to protect consumers and promote public health by helping safe and effective products reach the market in a timely way. The FDA also monitors products for continued safety after they are in use. Each drug or treatment used in clinical research trials has passed FDA regulations for study.
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