Clinical trials are research studies conducted with people.
Many trials try to find better ways to prevent or treat diseases, while others test new ways to detect or diagnose a disease. These trials study a new treatment which has been proven to be at least as successful as standard treatment. The goal of the trial is to determine whether the new treatment is superior to the standard treatment for a specific disease. Participants in a clinical trial have, along with their medical doctor, decided that they want to take part in the study and that it is the best treatment choice. Research protocols for clinical trials have to go through an extensive, independent, peer review process by a separate board of scientists, doctors, nurses, and laypersons not connected with the trial before they are approved.