Clinical Trials and Frequently Asked Questions

What is a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors find ways to improve health care. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease.

Why are there clinical trials and why does Newland Medical Associates participate in them?

A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful research process. Studies are done with patients to find out whether promising approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are safe and effective.

What are the different types of clinical trials?

Treatment trials test new treatments (like a new cancer drug, new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy, new combinations of therapy, new methods such as gene therapy, new antibiotics or antivirals).

Prevention trials test new approaches, such as medicines, vitamins, minerals, or supplements that may lower the risk of certain type of illnesses. These trials look for the best way to prevent diseases/cancer in people who have never had them, or to prevent illness/cancer from coming back or a new condition from occurring in people who already have one.

Screening trials test the best way to find cancer, especially in its early stages.

Quality of Life trials explore ways to improve comfort and quality of life for patients afflicted with chronic illnesses such as cancer.