Clinical Trials & Studies
- Our Clinical Research
- What to Expect
Clinical Research at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children's
¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· Children's conducts clinical trials to evaluate new therapies or treatments. This means eligible participants may have access to treatment options not available everywhere.
We’re also involved in a variety of clinical research studies to better understand disease. We collect and analyze real world evidence along with top academic institutions, national associations, and industry leaders.
Our Clinical Research
Clinical research involves human volunteers, including healthy kids, to help us find ways to improve health care for children with disease, illness, or injury.ÌýLearn about our studies and make a difference with us.
Join Us
Understanding Clinical Research
Enrolling your child in a clinical trial or study is a big decision. This information might help you understand what to expect.
Study Types
Clinical research studies come in different forms, depending on their goals and how involved participants need to be.ÌýSome studies ask people to take part in visits or try new medicines or devices. Others only use existing medical records or test results to find answers.
Some common types of research studies are:
- Experimental studies: Testing the effects of an intervention under controlled conditions.
- Interventional studies: Testing a treatment or other intervention to assess its effects.
- Observational studies:ÌýObserving and recording data to uncover relationships or processes in disease.
- Epidemiological studies: Identifying patterns and causes in the occurrence of disease.
- Review studies:ÌýSummarizing and analyzing existing data, for an overview of the current state of knowledge.
- Quantitative studies:ÌýCollecting and analyzing numerical data to understand patterns, relationships, or trends.
- Registry studies:ÌýUsing databases or registries to collect and analyze data to help with long-term outcome monitoring and assessment.
What to Expect
When you agree to volunteer your child for a clinical trial or clinical research study, we'll help you understand things like:
- Purpose and objectives,Ìýincluding study aims and how your child’s participation contributes to advancements in science.
- Informed consent, involving detailed information about the study, potential risks and benefits, and your rights. Note you can withdraw at any time.
- Study design and timeline, including the expected duration of the study and the time commitment required to participate.
- Interventions or procedures (if applicable), including clear explanations of any treatments, therapies, or procedures involved and potential risks and benefits.
- Data collection, involving how data is collected (interviews, surveys, tests) and confidentiality measures.
- Follow-up and monitoring, involvingÌýwhat to expect in the frequency and nature of ongoing assessments.
- Communication, including contact information for the study team for any questions or concerns.Ìý
- Education and support, including materials and resources and ongoing information provided along the way.
Is a Clinical Trial Right for Your Child?
Watch this video about clinical trials, how they’re run, and what you need to know to make the best decision for your family.Ìý
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Trials
Your child's safety is our top priority. We work closely with government agencies to maintain the highest standards in research involving human subjects. Your involvement in research is entirely voluntary and you can stop at any time, even if the trial isn't finished.
To ensure safety, our Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) carefully reviews, approves, and monitors all research at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ·.
The IRB ensures that each trial is conducted ethically, and the rights and well-being of participants are safeguarded. At ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ·, our IRBs are involved at every step of each trial.
Clinical trials and studies have rules about who can join.ÌýThese rules, called eligibility criteria, help keep participants safe and make sure the study collects useful information.Ìý
Criteria can include factors such as age, gender, medical history, the type and stage of a disease or condition, and more.Ìý
Some trials are designed for children or adults with a certain medical condition, while others may be open to healthy volunteers.
The length of a clinical trial can vary based on the type of trial, the medical condition we’re studying, study objectives, recruitment, and enrollment process and regulatory approvals.Ìý
For example, a phase 1 clinical trial, which focuses on assessing the safety and dosage of a new treatment, may only last a few months. Whereas a phase 2 trial, which involves a larger group and treatment effectiveness, can last several months to two years. A phase 3 trial can last several years to confirm treatment effectiveness and monitor side effects.Ìý
Clinical trials for chronic conditions make take longer to monitor its long-term effects, and more complex studies may also need longer follow-up periods.Ìý
When involved in a clinical trial, participants usually continue to see their regular health care providers.Ìý
Our researchers may work with your child’s physicians to make sure the trial doesn’t conflict with other treatments.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
Find out more about clinical trials, how they're conducted, and other tips from the experts at ¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾Ã¾«Æ· KidsHealth®.
