Clinical Studies

What is a clinical study?

A clinical study is a medical investigation that uses human volunteers to test the effectiveness of new medications or treatments. Also known as clinical trials, these studies look at drugs and devices that are still in the investigation stage.

Clinical studies also determine the safety of these treatments, along with things like side effects and specifics about how the medications treat disease.

Sometimes clinical studies simply involve observational studies. During these studies, investigators watch and assess a group of volunteers. The participants in the study aren’t given any medications or treatments but are monitored for things such as how certain lifestyles impact diseases and their progression.

Who can participate in clinical studies?

Every clinical study has specific eligibility requirements participants must meet. These include things like age, disease diagnosis, and previous treatments. Sometimes there are exclusion criteria which disqualify you from participating in a specific clinical study.

At Bland Clinic Research Division, eligibility for current research studies includes:

• Type 2 diabetes study criteria: 18 or older and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, with or without a history of cardiovascular disease

• Osteoarthritis study criteria: 18 or older and diagnosed with osteoarthritis, with or without cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes

• Atrial fibrillation: An observational registry; call the office for more details

The research center is also forming clinical studies involving hypertension and lung disease. If you think you may qualify for either study, please contact the office.

What are the benefits of being in a clinical study?

Clinical studies come with a range of benefits. Beyond being able to participate in cutting-edge medical research, you get to experience some of the most innovative medications and devices available. If you have a chronic disease or a condition that doesn’t respond to traditional treatment options, a clinical study may give you the recovery you’ve only dreamed of.

Clinical studies are also free of charge and you’ll never be asked to pay for medication, equipment, or medical care. What’s more, you’re also compensated financially for your time and travel expenses.

And if you were given a placebo or were a nontreatment control volunteer, meaning you didn’t get the medication or procedure that the study was conducted for, you’ll be given the option to have the treatment free of charge after the clinical study is over.

To learn more, call the office or book an initial consultation using online booking today.