Getting
Involved with Medical Research
Advances in
medicine and science are the results of new ideas and approaches
developed through research. Clinical trials (also called medical
research and research studies) are used to determine whether new
drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. A clinical trial
is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines
or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Carefully
conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find
treatments that work. Ideas for clinical trials usually come from
researchers. New therapies are tested on people only after laboratory
and animal studies show promising results. New treatments must prove
to be safe and effective in scientific studies with a certain number
of patients before they can be made widely available.
Risks and
Benefits
There are both
benefits and risks associated with clinical trials. By
participating in a clinical trial, you can:
- Take an active
role in your own health care. - Gain access
to new treatments that are not available to the public. - Obtain expert
medical care at leading health care facilities during the trial.
- Help others
by contributing to medical research.
However, clinical
trials also have risks such as
side effects or adverse reactions to medications or treatments.
Anyone interested
in participating in a clinical trial should should:
– learn as
much as possible about clinical trials in general
- Understanding
Clinical Trials, provided by ClinicalTrials.gov, a service
of the National Institutes of Health, for a comprehensive overview
of clinical trials and questions to ask before participating. - Visit the
National
Cancer Institute for English and Spanish publications on cancer
clinical trials including What Are Clinical Trials All About?
A Guide for Patients With Cancer.
– learn more about clinical trials of particular interest to
you
- ClinicalTrials.gov
provides patients, family members, health care professionals,
and members of the public easy access to information on clinical
trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions. This site
currently contains over 4,000 clinical studies sponsored primarily
by the National Institutes of Health. During the coming year,
additional studies from other Federal agencies and the pharmaceutical
industry will be included. Learn more about clinical studies on
health issues of importance to you by searching ClinicalTrials.gov
for current research.
RESEARCH
ALERTS
- The Study
of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR), one of the largest breast
cancer prevention studies ever, is now recruiting volunteers at
more than 400 centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and
Canada. The trial will include 22,000 postmenopausal women at
increased risk of breast cancer to determine whether the osteoporosis
prevention drug raloxifene (Evista®) is as effective in reducing
the chance of developing breast cancer as tamoxifen (Nolvadex®
) has proven to be. STAR is a study of the National Surgical Adjuvant
Breast and Bowel Project (NSAPB), a network of professional, and
is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). For more
information on STAR and a list of participating centers, visit
NSABP’s website or call
the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at
1-800-332-8615 for information in English and Spanish. - A Prostate Cancer Genetics Project at the University
of Michigan has been established to determine possible genetic
causes of prostate cancer by studying families in which two or
more living individuals have been affected with prostate cancer.
Those interested in participating must fit the above criteria,
will have their health history reviewed, and may be asked to notify
other members of their family who have/had prostate cancer and
seek their consent for the study’s team to contact them. Participation
in the study may also include all of the following:- Signing a consent form that outlines the responsibilities
of participation. - Providing information on your family history, including
members of your family diagnosed with prostate and other
forms of cancer. - Releasing medical record information relating to your
cancer diagnosis and giving permission to study your tumor
in the laboratory. - Providing a small blood sample.
Study participants will not be required to travel to Ann Arbor,
Michigan or pay for any expenses associated with this study.
If your family has two or more living individuals who have been
affected with prostate cancer, and you are interested in participating
in this study contact Kristin Brierley, Research Assistant,
or Kathleen A. Cooney, M.D. at (734) 647-3014 or (800) 723-9170,
or by email. - Signing a consent form that outlines the responsibilities