Clinical Trials

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that tests how new medications, detection or diagnostic tools, or devices work in human subjects. It consists of four phases.

• Phase I studies assess safety.
• Phase II studies focus on efficacy and evaluate how the investigational product affects the human body.
• Phase III studies enroll a large number of participants and compare new therapies to current ones. They only begin after promising results are achieved in Phase I and II trials.
• Phase IV studies occur after a treatment has been approved. They often compare that treatment with others on the market or may monitor long-term effectiveness.

Why participate in a clinical trial?

When you participate in a clinical trial, you may:

• Gain access to potential new treatments for a disease or condition
• Take advantage of a unique healthcare choice
• Advance medical knowledge
• Help others who may develop or have a similar disease or condition

Who can participate in a clinical trial?

Every clinical trial has specific guidelines regarding who can participate. The established criteria will either include or exclude an individual from a study. These criteria are based on factors such as age, gender, type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history and other medical conditions. Individuals must qualify for the study before they can participate in the trial. It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally. They are used to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe and to help ensure that researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study.

What clinical trials are currently available through Main Line Health?

Various clinical trials are currently taking place through Main Line Health's Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP), the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research’s Clinical Research Center (CRC) and the Main Line Health Heart Center.