BMT Program Patient Info Faculty Clinical Studies Newsletters Staff Directory Links Clinical Studies at Washington University Clinical trials are research studies conducted to evaluate new therapies. Such research relies on patients who volunteer to try the new or changed therapy. The purpose of these trials is to determine if a new treatment is safe, effective, and better than the standard of care.
Clinical trials are important, as they lead to tomorrow s standard of care.
Advances in medicine and science result from new ideas developed through research. Risks and side effects exist with almost any treatment whether it is standard of care or clinical trial. However many safeguards are in place to make clinical trials as safe as possible. Before a drug is tested in patients, it is extensively studied in the laboratory and on animal models. The IRB is made up of doctors from different specialties, ethicists, administrators, and members of the public.