To gain the knowledge needed to understand life processes, medical researchers conduct biological experiments to formulate hypotheses or predictions. They test the accuracy of their predictions by conducting further experiments, and make changes in their hypothesis based on the results of their experiments. Sharing of research findings is vital to the medical research process. Researchers share their results and conclusions with other scientists by interchange visits, at professional conferences and through scientific publications. Many years and many experiments later, other scientists may apply the information in other ways, or they may test it once again to confirm or change the hypothesis, or discard it in the light of new evidence.
Medical science is an evolutionary process.
Every investigation involves many bits of information provided from many different research specialties. When these bits of information are combined, they often provide a solution to a health problem. Even when the problem is not completely solved, the partially combined pieces of the puzzle always provide a deeper understanding of the scientific process so the search for a solution can continue.