Clinical trials are conducted or sponsored by a wide range of organisations, including:  pharmaceutical companies, either solely or jointly with other research institutions such as universities and hospitals; private research organisations under a grant from government or from public donations; publicly funded research organisations, such as universities and teaching hospitals. In short, the Sponsor is the entity or person that initiates, organises and supports the clinical trial and takes responsibility for the overall conduct of the trial, including liability for injuries that may be suffered by patients .