What are clinical trials
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, you likely have some questions about the process. In general, clinical trials are research studies that test how safe and effective new medical approaches like treatments, vaccines, or other devices are for humans. Clinical trials are usually the last step before a new treatment is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so they’re very carefully designed to determine whether a new treatment is safe and effective. They can be conducted at any stage of testing; in fact, most treatments that reach this phase of testing have already been tested on animals and on small groups of people to make sure they’re safe enough to advance to later stages.
Most clinical trials look at whether a certain drug is more effective than another in treating a certain disease or condition. However, not all studies involve drugs—some may test out other approaches such as different ways to use an existing medication or surgical techniques. If your doctor recommends that you participate in a clinical trial for one of your conditions, it’s important to understand what exactly will be required of you during the study period so that you can decide if it’s something that would work for you given your lifestyle and preferences.
Here are three examples of clinical trials you could sign up for in Santa Monica:
- The National Institute of Health is conducting a study about the effects of sleep and exercise on cognitive function at UCLA’s School of Medicine.
- The Univeristy of California San Francisco is working with Dignity Health St. John’s hospital to study a new drug for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, which is a type of blood cancer.
- The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is conducting a trial that involves inserting an investigational device into the heart of patients with severe heart failure.
About Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California. Santa Monica is known for its shopping and dining options. The city is also home to the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park, a family-friendly amusement park located on the pier.
Santa Monica’s health system around the area are top tier and some of the best facilities in the world. The most popular hospitals in the area are Providence Saint John’s Health Center, UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Why participate in a clinical trial
The study doctors and nurses will be monitoring your health. While being a part of a trial does come with some risk, you will be carefully monitored to make sure the treatment is safe for you. However, if at any time, you decide that you want to withdraw from a clinical trial, this is your right.
What are the best locations for clinical trials in Santa Monica and how many are there
Santa Monica has plenty of options for clinical trial locations. The most common types of locations are:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Research facilities
- Care providers
In Santa Monica alone, there are over 200 clinical trials currently underway, with more being added every year. As you narrow down your search for a suitable location to participate in a trial, it’s best to think about how close the location is to where you live and work.
Who can participate in clinical trials and which ones in Santa Monica
To participate in a clinical trial, you must:
- Have a specific disease or condition
- Meet other criteria determined by the researchers
- Be within driving distance of Santa Monica
- Be available to visit the clinical trial for its duration
Clinical trials are designed to provide evidence that a treatment is safe and effective, but participation can also help those living with a disease.
Clinical trials are designed to provide evidence that a treatment is safe and effective. But they can also be an opportunity for someone living with a disease to access new, potentially life-changing treatments. By participating in a clinical trial, the individual may help researchers learn more about the disease, experience benefits from the treatment, and potentially find a cure for themselves or others. Even those who are healthy can participate in clinical trials that explore how to prevent people from developing diseases.